In the Principality, Monaco captain Denis Zakaria will spend the international break in treatment rather than with Switzerland after an adductor problem worsened during Friday’s 2-1 Ligue 1 win over Lens.
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Zakaria, 29, had been included in Switzerland coach Murat Yakin’s squad alongside a number of Monaco players called up during the September international window. However, the Swiss federation confirmed on Monday that the 69-cap midfielder was unavailable because he was not fully fit.
The Monaco captain has been managing adductor discomfort for several days, with the issue becoming more severe in the Lens match. He had completed all four of Monaco’s previous league fixtures, but was replaced in the 76th minute on Friday by Pape Cabral.
There was little obvious concern as Zakaria left the pitch, jogging over to greet Cabral, although he had appeared to tire during the second half. After the match, the former Borussia Mönchengladbach player gave a guarded update: “It is a physical issue, but it should be fine. We will see.”
He will now remain in Monaco for medical care, with the longer-than-usual September break offering additional recovery time. Monaco will hope the spell away from competition is enough, because Zakaria’s midfield partnership with Lamine Camara has been central to the club’s early run at the top of Ligue 1.
