France coach Zinedine Zidane unveiled his 23‑man squad on Friday for the Nations League double‑header against Italy in Milan on November 12 and Turkey in Bordeaux on November 15, with Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé listed despite a knee injury suffered on international duty in September, and Paris FC attacking midfielder Pablo Pagis earning his first senior call‑up.
Mbappé, who captains Les Bleus, scored the winning goal in Zidane’s inaugural match in charge – a 2‑1 victory over Turkey on September 25 – before the injury forced him out of the three remaining fixtures of that international window. He missed France’s two wins over Belgium and the 1‑1 draw with Italy, but has since returned to club action, netting eight goals in seven La Liga and Champions League games for Real Madrid.
The squad also omits Paris Saint‑Germain winger Ousmane Dembélé and Rennes striker Esteban Lepaul for the November fixtures. Inter Milan striker Marcus Thuram is recalled to bolster the attack alongside Pagis, who impressed after moving from Lorient to a Paris FC side currently fourth in Ligue 1. Pagis is the son of former Marseille player Mickaël Pagis, who once represented France in beach soccer under Eric Cantona.
Midfield sees the return of Real Madrid’s Aurélien Tchouaméni, replacing Manu Kone, while Manchester United’s Leny Yoro and Chelsea’s Malo Gusto step in for Barcelona defender Jules Koundé and Chelsea’s Maxence Lacroix in defence. France sit atop Nations League Group A1 with ten points from four matches, three ahead of Italy, and the top two teams will progress to the quarter‑finals in March.
- Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Robin Risser (Lens), Guillaume Restes (Toulouse)
- Defenders: Andy Diouf (Inter Milan), Malo Gusto (Chelsea), Jeremy Jacquet (Liverpool), Ibrahima Konaté (Real Madrid), Pierre Kalulu (Juventus), Adrien Truffert (Bournemouth), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich), Leny Yoro (Manchester United)
- Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), Lucas Da Cunha (Como), Adrien Rabiot (AC Milan), Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid), Warren Zaire‑Emery (Paris Saint‑Germain)
- Forwards: Bradley Barcola (Liverpool), Desire Doué (Paris Saint‑Germain), Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Pablo Pagis (Paris FC), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan)
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>