Kylian Mbappé returns to the France squad as Désiré Doué earned first senior call-up

France national team boss Didier Deschamps revealed this Thursday afternoon his squad for Les Bleus’ Nations League quarter-finals against Croatia. Kylian Mbappé is back within the France squad after Deschamps opted not to call him for the November international break. The Real Madrid striker also missed out on the October fixtures with France, presumably through injury, although Mbappé featured for his new club just before the international break.

Now that Mbappé has fully recovered his level after a turbulent start to his new Madrid life, he is expected to retain the skipper’s armband. Mbappé’s Real Madrid teammate Aurélien Tchouaméni is also back to the France squad, at the expense of Al-Ittihad midfielder N’Golo Kanté. Deschamps has opted to give PSG winger Désiré Doué (19) a first senior France call-up following a streak of eye-catching performances with Luis Enrique’s Les Parisiens.

Chelsea centre-back Wesley Fofana – who has just returned from injury – has missed out with Deschamps handing Inter Milan centre-back Benjamin Pavard a recall. Premier League stalwarts Ibrahima Konaté and William Saliba have made the cut. France have topped the Nations League A2 group and will face Croatia in the quarter-finals. The first leg will be played at Split’s Poljud Stadium on Thursday, March 20. The return leg will be played at Saint-Denis’ Stade de France the following Sunday.

Goalkeepers: Lucas Chevalier (Lille), Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Brice Samba (Lens)

Defenders: Jonathan Clauss (Nice), Lucas Digne (Aston Villa), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool), Jules Koundé (Barcelona), Benjamin Pavard (Inter), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)

Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Matteo Guendouzi (Lazio) Manu Koné (Roma), Adrien Rabiot (Marseille), Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid), Warren Zaïre-Emery (PSG).

Forwards: Bradley Barcola (PSG), Ousmane Dembélé (PSG), Désiré Doué (PSG) Randal Kolo Muani (PSG), Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich) Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan).

GFFN | Bastien Cheval