Deschamps Confident Mbappe Will Be Back Among the Goals 

Kylian Mbappe of France celebrates following the UEFA Nations League group B soccer match between France and Belgium in Lyon, France, 09 September 2024. (EPA)
Kylian Mbappe of France celebrates following the UEFA Nations League group B soccer match between France and Belgium in Lyon, France, 09 September 2024. (EPA)
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Deschamps Confident Mbappe Will Be Back Among the Goals 

Kylian Mbappe of France celebrates following the UEFA Nations League group B soccer match between France and Belgium in Lyon, France, 09 September 2024. (EPA)
Kylian Mbappe of France celebrates following the UEFA Nations League group B soccer match between France and Belgium in Lyon, France, 09 September 2024. (EPA)

France coach Didier Deschamps said he has no concerns about the form of Kylian Mbappe and expects Real Madrid's new forward to rediscover his scoring touch when he reaches full fitness.

After France opened their Nations League campaign with a 3-1 defeat by Italy in Paris, Deschamps fielded a much-changed team against Belgium on Monday, with Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann starting on the bench in their 2-0 win.

Mbappe struggled at Euro 2024 after breaking his nose against Austria and took four games before scoring his first league goals for Madrid after his move from Paris St Germain.

"The French team will always be stronger with him and I’m convinced that in a month he will be better," Deschamps said.

"There are very high demands in his club. I have no worries with Kylian."

Mbappe was brought on in the 67th against Belgium and looked bright as he tried to add his name to the scoresheet, missing narrowly from a tight angle 10 minutes from time and having an effort saved in the 86th minute.

Michael Olise and Manu Kone were handed their first caps against Italy while Lucas Digne played his first game for France in more than two years against Belgium, with Matteo Guendouzi also returning.

Deschamps says he is using the Nations League as a platform to widen the pool of talent at his disposal and plans to continue down that path regardless of the results.

"I'm sticking to my course, to put as many players as possible in situations where we can test them," he said.

"It is the time to do that even if you lose games. You don't replace players with 50 caps by snapping your fingers.

"I'm well aware that I am not putting the team in the best conditions," he said of the numerous changes to the line-up.

"But we have to go through it. It gives us answers."



England's Ali Retires from International Cricket at 37

Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 - England v Netherlands - Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune, India - November 8, 2023 England's Moeen Ali in action REUTERS/Andrew Boyers/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 - England v Netherlands - Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune, India - November 8, 2023 England's Moeen Ali in action REUTERS/Andrew Boyers/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
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England's Ali Retires from International Cricket at 37

Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 - England v Netherlands - Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune, India - November 8, 2023 England's Moeen Ali in action REUTERS/Andrew Boyers/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 - England v Netherlands - Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune, India - November 8, 2023 England's Moeen Ali in action REUTERS/Andrew Boyers/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights

England allrounder Moeen Ali has retired from international cricket at age 37, the player told the Daily Mail in an interview published on Saturday.

The Birmingham-born left-handed batter and right-arm spinner has played in 68 tests, 138 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 92 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) for England since 2014, with his last international appearance in June.

"I'm 37 years old and didn't get picked for this month's Australia series," Ali said.

"I've played a lot of cricket for England. It's time for the next generation, which was also explained to me. It felt the time was right. I've done my part."

The first Asian-origin cricketer to captain England in T20Is, Ali has scored five centuries in tests and three in ODIs, also taking 366 wickets across all three formats. He was in the squad when England won the 50-over World Cup in 2019 and the T20 World Cup in 2022, according to Reuters.

Ali, who holds the England record for the fastest half-century in T20Is having reached fifty in 16 balls against South Africa in 2022, said he was proud of his international career.

"When you first play for England, you don't know how many games you are going to play. So to play nearly 300 ... I know they were the best days of my life," Ali said.

Ali said he planned to keep playing in franchise cricket and take up coaching in the future.

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"I could hold on and try to play for England again, but I know in reality I won't," he added.

"Even retiring, I don't feel it's because I'm not good enough ... but I get how things are, and the team needs to evolve into another cycle. It's about being real to myself."