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France Defense Hit by Injuries Ahead of European Qualifier Against the Netherlands 

Barcelona's Jules Kounde sits injured on the pitch during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Granada CF and FC Barcelona in Granada, Spain, 08 October 2023. (EPA)
Barcelona's Jules Kounde sits injured on the pitch during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Granada CF and FC Barcelona in Granada, Spain, 08 October 2023. (EPA)
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France Defense Hit by Injuries Ahead of European Qualifier Against the Netherlands 

Barcelona's Jules Kounde sits injured on the pitch during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Granada CF and FC Barcelona in Granada, Spain, 08 October 2023. (EPA)
Barcelona's Jules Kounde sits injured on the pitch during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Granada CF and FC Barcelona in Granada, Spain, 08 October 2023. (EPA)

Malo Gusto and Axel Disasi have been called up as injury replacements ahead of France’s match against the Netherlands in qualifying for the European Championship.

The two players replace defenders Jules Kounde and Dayot Upamecano, the French soccer federation said on Monday as the French squad gathered at the team’s training camp outside Paris.

France takes on the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Friday. Les Bleus will then host Scotland in a friendly game in the northern city of Lille on Oct. 17.

Kounde picked up a left knee injury while playing for Barcelona in the Spanish league on Sunday. Upamecano injured his left hamstring this weekend with Bayern Munich.

Their withdrawals follow that of Arsenal defender William Saliba, who was replaced Sunday by Jean-Clair Todibo in France’s squad.

France leads Group B and will qualify for the tournament hosted by Germany next year if it beats the Netherlands, or if they draw and Greece loses against Ireland.

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Hamilton Reveals Long Battle with Depression in Times Interview

British driver Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes-AMG Petronas being interviewed after coming in third in the qualifying for the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore, 21 September 2024. (EPA)
British driver Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes-AMG Petronas being interviewed after coming in third in the qualifying for the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore, 21 September 2024. (EPA)
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Hamilton Reveals Long Battle with Depression in Times Interview

British driver Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes-AMG Petronas being interviewed after coming in third in the qualifying for the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore, 21 September 2024. (EPA)
British driver Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes-AMG Petronas being interviewed after coming in third in the qualifying for the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore, 21 September 2024. (EPA)

Seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton battled with depression for years from an early age as he dealt with the pressure of pursuing a career in motor racing and faced bullying at school, the 39-year-old told The Times in an interview.

Hamilton, who has been racing competitively since he was six, said he has also battled with depression as an adult, and has found it difficult to open up about his journey.

"I think it was the pressure of the racing and struggling at school. The bullying. I had no one to talk to," Hamilton said in the interview published on Saturday.

"I’ve struggled with mental health through my life, depression from a very early age when I was, like, 13... when I was in my twenties I had some really difficult phases."

Hamilton made his Formula One debut in 2007 when he was 21, becoming the first Black driver in the series. He won the championship next year and matched Michael Schumacher's record of seven championships in 2020.

The Briton said he felt more mature today than he was earlier in his career.

"You’re learning about things that have been passed down to you from your parents, noticing those patterns, how you react to things, how you can change those," he said.

"So what might have angered me in the past doesn’t anger me today. I am so much more refined."

Hamilton said he has tried silent retreats to improve his mental health, and while talking to a therapist years ago did not help, he would like to find one in the future.

The Mercedes driver, who is set to join Ferrari next year, is sixth in the championship, with the next race set for Austin next month.