Dembele and Nkunku return to the France squad for Euro 2024 qualifiers
Coach Didier Deschamps has included Ousmane Dembele from Barcelona and Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig in the France squad for two Euro 2024 qualifiers in June.
Both players were unable to participate in France’s initial qualifying matches in March due to fitness issues. Despite their absence, France managed to secure a 4-0 victory against the Netherlands at home and a 1-0 win against the Republic of Ireland on the road.
After earning six points, they are currently leading Group B in the qualifiers and are scheduled to play against weaker team Gibraltar in Faro and have a home game against Greece.
“You will say I am very pragmatic, but the three points that are available against Gibraltar have the same value as those we took against the Netherlands or in Ireland,” Deschamps told reporters in Paris.
“He was supposed to be in the squad for the World Cup but was ruled out by injury, but now he is back on top form,” added Deschamps of Nkunku, who scored four goals in the last five Bundesliga games of the season for his club as they finished third.
He is scheduled to play for Leipzig in the upcoming German Cup final against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Wesley Fofana, a centre-back for Chelsea, is included in the team and is hoping to make his debut for France after being unable to participate in March due to an injury.
Ferland Mendy, a left-back for Real Madrid, has also been called up for the first time since before the World Cup, but William Saliba, an injured defender for Arsenal, is not present.
Khephren Thuram, a highly-regarded midfielder for Nice, was not selected, and Paul Pogba of Juventus and N’Golo Kante of Chelsea, who were both key players in France’s victorious 2018 World Cup campaign, are once again absent due to injuries they sustained during the season.
Full France squad for Euro 2024 qualifiers
Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola (West Ham United/ENG), Mike Maignan (AC Milan/ITA), Brice Samba (Lens)
Defenders: Axel Disasi (Monaco), Wesley Fofana (Chelsea/ENG), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan/ITA), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool/ENG), Jules Kounde(Barcelona/ESP), Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid/ESP), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich/GER), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich/GER)
Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid/ESP), Youssouf Fofana (Monaco), Antoine Griezmann(Atletico Madrid/ESP), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus/ITA), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid/ESP)
Forwards: Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich/GER), Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona/ESP), Olivier Giroud(AC Milan/ITA), Randal Kolo Muani (Eintracht Frankfurt/GER), Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain), Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig/GER), Marcus Thuram (Borussia Moenchengladbach/GER)
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