The French Football Federation confirmed the withdrawal on Monday, two days after the forward limped out of Tottenham’s 1-0 defeat at Elland Road. In a short note from Clairefontaine, reported by Yahoo Sports, the federation said Tel was “forced to withdraw from the France Under-21 team training camp” that opened the same day, with no replacement called up for the matches against Italy and England.
Roberto De Zerbi has not been given a timeline either. The Spurs head coach left Elland Road already fearing the worst on Saturday afternoon.
“Mathys had a bad injury on the ankle. We need to make a medical check to understand the situation,” he said.
Tel was carried off in the 34th minute after a challenge from Leeds defender Jayden Bogle caught his left ankle. The referee waved play on and VAR did not intervene, a decision Spurs are reportedly planning to raise formally with the Premier League’s refereeing body. Tel left the stadium on crutches, his left foot in a protective boot.
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A heavy loss on the left
The timing is awkward for Tottenham. Tel has been one of the few bright spots on De Zerbi’s left flank this season, a run interrupted by the Leeds game and now by at least a fortnight of medical uncertainty.
The 21-year-old had been in good form for the France Under-21 side too. He captained the team through the last international window and has scored five goals with an assist in four European qualifiers, numbers strong enough to put him on the radar for a senior call-up.
His club season has been quieter in front of goal, with one goal in eight appearances, six of them starts.
Spurs waiting on the scans
Until the medical department reports back, the Tel question hangs over the rest of De Zerbi’s international break. The club has not put a return date on the injury, and the manager himself said only that a medical check was needed to understand the situation.
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Tottenham’s next Premier League fixture after the international break is listed on the club’s fixture-changes page.
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