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France football team coach Didier Deschamps recalled Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot, absent from the squad for more than two years, while dismissing world champion Blaise Matuidi, who joined this summer Inter Miami. Paul Pogba is not on this list after testing positive for the new coronavirus.
Didier Deschamps, the coach of the France football team, unveiled on Thursday August 27 his list of 23 players called up to face Sweden (September 5) and Croatia (September 8) as part of the League of Nations.
The double world champion had to do with the conditions at the time since Paul Pogba, last-minute package due to a positive Covid-19 test, is replaced by the young Rennes midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, not yet 18 years old.
“Unfortunately he performed a test yesterday (Wednesday) which turned out positive this morning, I replaced him with Camavinga,” said the technician of the Manchester United midfielder.
New kids
The coach also created a surprise by summoning Adrien Rabiot, whose last selection dates back to March 27, 2018. A few weeks later, the player, then at Paris Saint-Germain, publicly refused his status as a reserve for the 2018 World Cup.
“He has returned to a very good level. We cannot go back, I am not someone who likes to take radical positions. He has remained selectable”, explained Didier Deschamps.
The selection knows other upheavals. World champion Blaise Matuidi (33 years old, 84 caps), who left Juventus Turin for Inter Miami this summer, is not on the list, while Leizpig Dayot Upamecano defender and Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar do their first appearance in A.
Didier Deschamps also announced the presence of PSG star Kylian Mbappé, who played in the “Final 8” of the Champions League after recovering from a sprained ankle. The recent European champions Benjamin Pavard and Kingsley Coman will however not be present.
The Blues will return to the pitch after a long absence caused by the new coronavirus pandemic which notably caused the postponement of Euro-2020 for one year. Their last match dates back to November 17, won in Albania (2-0). They are expected Monday at their Clairefontaine training center, for a gathering under high health vigilance.
They will play Sölna against Sweden on September 5 before hosting Croatia at Stade de France three days later, for their League of Nations debut.
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham / ENG), Mike Maignan (Lille), Steve Mandanda (Marseille).
Defenders: Lucas Digne (Everton / ENG), Léo Dubois (Lyon), Lucas Hernandez (Bayern / GER), Presnel Kimpembé (Paris SG), Clément Lenglet (FC Barcelona / ESP), Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid / ESP), Dayot Upamecano (RB Leipzig / GER), Raphaël Varane (Real Madrid / ESP).
Middle: Eduardo Camavinga (Rennes), N’Golo Kanté (Chelsea / ENG), Steven Nzonzi (Rennes), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus / ITA), Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham / ENG).
Forwards: Houssem Aouar (Lyon), Wissam Ben Yedder (Monaco), Olivier Giroud (Chelsea / ENG), Antoine Griezmann (FC Barcelona / ESP), Jonathan Ikoné (Lille), Anthony Martial (Manchester United / ENG), Kylian Mbappé ( Paris SG).
With AFP and Reuters
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