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• Mbappe free to do what he wants, says Deschamps after nightclub controversy

  France manager Didier Deschamps believes Kylian Mbappe should be allowed to do what he wants, playing down rumours of a rift between the two.

  The comments came after Mbappe was spotted in a nightclub in Sweden on Thursday, the same night France beat Israel 4-1, having been left out of the squad by Deschamps to recover from an injury.

  Mbappe had suffered a muscle injury with Real Madrid last month and was given the international break to rest by the France manager. 

  But Deschamps was both unconcerned and unaware of the striker's excursion.

  "I don't follow the news of players who are not here," he said. "Kylian is following a programme with Real Madrid. I don't know if he was away or not."

  The controversy stems from rumours that Mbappe had asked Deschamps to only play him in 'important' international matches, as he prioritises winning the Ballon d'Or.

  Given that Mbappe had returned from injury for Real Madrid, coming off the bench against Lille in the Champions League earlier this month and starting the 2-0 victory over Villarreal in LaLiga a few days later, the decision to leave Mbappe out raised questions.

  Deschamps, though, was quick to give a logical explanation for the absence of their biggest player, who is just nine goals behind Olivier Giroud (57) as France's all-time top scorer.

  "Like any player for his club, he follows a programme. If players have days off, they are free to do what they want," added Deschamps.

  France face Belgium on Monday without Mbappe, having beaten them 2-0 at home in the reverse fixture last month.

  The striker only made a 23-minute cameo off the bench in that game, though he had the joint-most shots in the game (four) and the second-most touches in the box (five) among his team-mates.

  Deschamps' side are, in fact, unbeaten in their last five matches without their captain in the starting XI. They are a point behind group-leaders Italy at the halfway point.

• Deschamps braced for intense clash with rivals Belgium

  Didier Deschamps is preparing his France team for an intense meeting with rivals Belgium in Monday's decisive Nations League clash.

  Belgium have not overcome Les Bleus in competitive action in 43 years, last managing to do so in 1981 in a World Cup qualifier.

  Domenico Tedesco's side will be desperate to atone for that poor record in Brussels, knowing a defeat could end their top-two hopes.

  France are two points clear of third-placed Belgium, who are three behind group leaders Italy, and Deschamps anticipates an enthralling clash with their quarter-final qualification chances on the line.

  "We will have a motivated Belgian team, like they always are, but even more so on Monday. There's definitely a rivalry," Deschamps told reporters on Sunday.

  "We face each other often in competitions, but not so much in friendlies. We often meet in decisive matches. So there’s a rivalry since we are neighbours, but not animosity and no bad blood because the players know each other."

  As for France's impressive record against Belgium, Deschamps does not expect that to play any influence on Monday.

  "I'm not convinced our past wins give us a psychological edge. It is history ... and the players aren't the same either," the France boss added.

  Les Bleus thrashed Israel 4-1 in Budapest, while Belgium earned a 2-2 draw in Italy on Thursday, having been two goals behind inside 24 minutes.

  France will again be missing talisman Kylian Mbappe, who is facing criticism at home for not taking part in the games against Israel and Belgium while being fit to play for Real Madrid.

  Mbappe's Real Madrid team-mate Aurelien Tchouameni will continue as France captain after taking the armband in his absence.

• Tedesco calls on Belgium to 'write history' with rare France triumph

  Domenico Tedesco urged his Belgium side to "write history" when the Red Devils host France in Monday's Nations League clash.

  Belgium are three points behind Group A2 leaders Italy and trail second-placed France by two, with the top pair securing qualification to the quarter-finals.

  Tedesco's men could cut that gap with victory in Brussels, though Belgium have not defeated Les Bleus in competitive action in 43 years.

  The Belgium head coach called on his side to change the history books, with their last competitive win against France coming in World Cup qualification in 1981.

  "Will the poor results against France from the past discourage us? It can be a motivation. We can actually write history," Tedesco said at Sunday's press conference.

  "Of course, we will need a fantastic day. If you see who France can select then it doesn't really matter that [Kylian] Mbappe isn't there."

  A home defeat and Italy overcoming Israel could effectively end Belgium's top-two hopes with two games remaining.

  Bravery was the key message from Tedesco, who will be without both Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku again after the pair asked to not be considered for international selection in October.

  "We must be brave against France. We won't get many opportunities and we have to finish the ones we get," Tedesco said.

  "We won't be able to put pressure on them for 90 minutes, so it's also important to defend well in our own box. It's going to be a big game."

  Belgium shared a 2-2 draw away to Italy on Thursday, having been two goals behind inside 24 minutes.

  "We didn't start well [against Italy]," he added. "We wanted to be compact, but we were way too impatient. And that quick [first] goal did not help.

  "We are just human. It is in my character to also talk about the bad things. We must not hide that.

  "But the match lasted 90 minutes, not half an hour. I want to emphasise that we showed a good response. With this young group, it was anything but a bad result against Italy."