France national team manager Didier Deschamps announced the French squad for June’s Euro 2024 qualifiers. Les Bleus are set to take on Gibraltar and Greece in the next round of qualifiers. The French lost in the quarter-final stage of the 2020 Euros where they lost to Switerzland on penalties after ending the game 3-3 in regulation.
The squad will see the return of Chelsea centre-back Wesley Fofana. The Marseille-born player was out of the latest France squad through injury back in March, but the 22-year-old centre-back has been included in the side. Ousmane Dembele also made his return to the squad while Paul Pogba, who has been ruled out of the season, is out due to injury. Similarly, Khéphren Thuram and N’Golo Kanté have been ruled out of the squad.
Another major return for France will be Ferland Mendy, who has had an injury-riddled 2022-23 season. Addressing this development, Deschamps, while speaking in the press conference, said, “Ferland was injured for the March fixtures. He already came with us and he knows his position very well.”
Further talking about other French left-backs, Deschamps stated that Eduardo Camavinga will among the midfielders in the squad. “I have almost three options per position now“, smiles Deschamps. “Eduardo is very good when playing in the midfield, he was very good at left-back too.“
France Squad for Euro 2024 qualifiers:
Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola (West Ham), Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Brice Samba (Lens)
Defenders: Axel Disasi (Monaco), Wesley Fofana (Chelsea), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool), Jules Koundé (Barcelona), Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)
Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Youssouf Fofana (Monaco), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid), Antoine Griezmann (Atlético Madrid)
Forwards: Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Ousmane Dembélé (Barcelona), Olivier Giroud (AC Milan), Marcus Thuram (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Randal Kolo Muani (Frankfurt), Kylian Mbappé (PSG), Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig)