Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana has been named in Didier Deschamps squad for France for the first time in his young footballing career.
Deschamps announced on Thursday his first team list for France since the 2022 FIFA World Cup for this month’s European championship 2024 qualifiers. Les Bleus face Netherland and Ireland in the qualifiers.
Wesley Fofana was given a maiden call up to the French squad
The coach has handed fresh call-ups to Brice Samba, Khephren Thuram and the Chelsea 22-year-old defender, Wesley Fofana.
Deschamps, the 1998 and 2018 World Cup winning man as a player and a coach respectively has necessarily stuck to the same squad that led his side to the final of the World Cup in Qatar.
Eduardo Camavinga alongside Theo Hernandez, Ibrahima Konate and Jules Kounde have maintained their place in the squad.
Following Hugo Lloris retirement from the senior national team of France, AC Milan shot-stopper Mike Maignan who was in the treatment room throughout the course of the World Cup is likely to take over the mantle in goal as the goalie of France.
With little alternatives in midfield as Paul Pogba and some others are facing one issue or the other, Didier Deschamps would be banking on Adrien Rabiot and Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouamemi for balance in midfield.
Both players were impressive at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar as they carried out their duty enough to satisfy Deschamps.
Youssouf Fofana is another alternative in midfield and Deschamps has expatiated that Camavinga would be utilized as a left-back for this particular qualifiers.
Didier Deschamps speaking in a presser said: “For this window, Camavinga will be considered a left-back, He is versatile but he gives me more guarantees in this position.
“He won’t be surprised, we’ve talked about it several times together.”
If there portends worries in defence and midfield for Les Bleus, in attack the senior national team of France appear sorted.
Olivier Giroud was named upfront alongside Kylian Mbappe and Kingsley Coleman, Antoine Griezmann who has had a torrid season for Atlético Madrid is expected to continue his role in midfield.
Kolo Muani, Marcus Thuram and Moussa Diabby of Bayern Leverkusen complete the list of players called up in attack for the European Championship 2024 qualifiers involving France against Netherland and Ireland.
France would be hunting to put the regret of December’s penalty shootout loss to Argentina behind them when they play against Netherland next week Friday and Ireland the Monday after.
These are the full list of players invited by Didier Deschamps for France to prosecute the 2024 European Championship qualifiers:
Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola (West Ham United), Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Brice Samba (RC Lens)
Defenders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Wesley Fofana (Chelsea), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool FC), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)
Midfielders: Youssouf Fofana (AS Monaco), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Aurélien Tchouameni (Real Madrid), Jordan Veretout (Olympic Marseille), Khéphren Thuram (Nice).
Forwards: Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Olivier Giroud (AC Milan), Antoine Griezmann (Atlético Madrid), Randal Kolo Muani (Eintracht Frankfurt), Kylian Mbappe (PSG), Marcus Thuram (Borussia Monchengladbach), Moussa Diaby (Bayern Leverkusen).
