Friday night EURO2024Q spectacle: Van Dijk's Oranje crew on a mission to stop Mbappe's wonder team

France captain Kylian Mbappe was absent from media duties on Thursday, ahead of Friday's UEFA European Championship qualifier champagne against the Netherlands. Aurelien Tchouameni, alongside Les Bleus manager Didier Deschamps, appeared at the press conference instead.

According to L'Equipe, Mbappe left Clairefontaine on Wednesday to make a quick return journey due to the death of a close one. However, he returned to France's training camp as soon as Thursday afternoon, as confirmed by Deschamps.

Mbappe has not fronted up to the media whilst on an international journey since before France's victory against Gibraltar in June. He hasn't netted for PSG, his longest run without a goal for Les Parisiens since 2018.

Speaking at Thursday's press conference, Deschamps said that Mbappe needed "tranquillity."

Kingsley Coman and Randal Kolo Muani are set to beat Ousmane Dembele and Olivier Giroud to start for France along with Mbappe against the Dutch team at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam.

EURO 2024 QUALIFIERS

Thursday

Latvia - Armenia 2-0 (1-0)

/Ikaunieks 39, Balodis 68/

Cyprus - Norway 0-4 (0-1)

/Sorloth 33, Haaland 65, 72, Aursnes 81/

Andorra - Kosovo 0-2 (0-1)

/Rashica 26, 71/

Belarus - Romania 0-0

Croatia - Turkey 0-1 (0-1)

/Yilmaz 30/

Spain - Scotland 2-0 (0-0)

/Morata 74, Sancet 86/

Faroe I. - Poland 0-2 (0-1)

/Szymanski 4, Buksa 65/

Albania - Czech R. 3-0 (1-0)

/Asani 9, Seferi 51, 73/

Friday

19.00: (2.35) Estonia (3.20) Azerbaijan (3.50)

21.45: (1.23) Portugal (6.25) Slovakia (13.0)

21.45: (3.20) Netherlands (3.40) France (2.25)

21.45: (1.85) Iceland (3.60) Luxembourg (4.80)

21.45: (2.85) Austria (3.40) Belgium (2.60)

21.45: (25.0) Liechtenstein (13.0) B&H (1.07)

21.45: (2.45) R.Ireland (3.15) Greece (3.30)

Saturday

16.00: (1.65) Ukraine (3.90) Macedonia (6.25)

16.00: (1.02) N.Ireland (22.0) San Marino (95.0)

19.00: (1.58) Bulgaria (3.90) Lithuania (7.25)

19.00: (1.95) Slovenia (3.50) Finland (4.40)

21.45: (2.75) Hungary (3.20) Serbia (2.85)

21.45: (1.18) Denmark (8.50) Kazakhstan (16.0)

21.45: (1.03) Italy (20.0) Malta (95.0)

***odds are subject to change***