France Soar Under Zidane but Face Mbappé Blow as Tuchel's England Suffer Squad Crisis

New manager Zinedine Zidane has enjoyed a perfect start with France, securing back-to-back wins, but it has come at a heavy cost following a knee injury to captain Kylian Mbappé. Conversely, Thomas Tuchel's England have immediately plunged into a severe selection crisis with six key stars ruled out.

France Soar Under Zidane but Face Mbappé Blow

France edged past Belgium 1-0 courtesy of a dramatic 88th-minute winner from Michael Olise. The result ensures new boss Zinedine Zidane maintains a 100% record in his first two games at the helm, getting his four-year contract off to a flying start.

However, the joy for *Les Bleus* was marred as captain Kylian Mbappé suffered a knee injury. The striker, who has netted 67 goals for his country, is set to be sidelined for 10 to 12 days, ruling him out of the blockbuster clash against Italy on 2 October 2026.

Roberto Mancini Enjoys Triumphant Return as Italy Cruise

Italy thrashed Turkey 4-1 away from home, marking Roberto Mancini's first victory of his second spell in charge since returning to the hot seat in July 2026.

The result lifts the *Azzurri* to third in Nations League Group A1 on three points, trailing leaders France (six points) and level with Belgium.

This serves as a crucial stepping stone in Mancini's long-term blueprint to rebuild the national team, with his contract running until 30 June 2030.

England Face Severe Squad Crisis Under Tuchel

Thomas Tuchel's England face a major squad crisis ahead of their clash with the Czech Republic after youngster Nico O'Reilly picked up an injury, taking the Three Lions' absentee list to six.

Prior to this, five high-profile stars—Cole Palmer, Declan Rice, Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo, and Tino Livramento—had already withdrawn from the squad.

To ease the selection headache, the German tactician has handed an emergency call-up to Liverpool's 18-year-old prospect Rio Ngumoha.

UEFA Announce Major Nations League Overhaul from 2028/29

UEFA have officially approved a comprehensive restructuring of the Nations League starting from the 2028/29 season. The landmark change will see League D completely abolished to streamline the tournament.

The competition will be reduced to just three tiers—Leagues A, B, and C—with each division expanded to 18 teams. This adjustment aims to ensure competitive balance and increase the frequency of high-profile fixtures between evenly-matched nations.

Under the new format, each team will play six group-stage matches. This is a strategic move by UEFA to optimize the international calendar and boost the tournament's commercial value.

Editorial Verdict

European football is undergoing a period of intense upheaval, with newly established managerial reigns instantly tested by a devastating wave of injuries. Do you think Tuchel can guide England through this selection crisis?