AS Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana made his France debut in les Bleus 2-0 victory over Austria in the UEFA Nations League on Thursday, and is expected to keep his place against Denmark.
France head to Copenhagen to take on Denmark with their Nations League Group A1 place nearly secured, with a draw or better all that Didier Deschamps' men need.
Fofana should help them secure that. He started next to his former Monaco teammate Aurélien Tchouaméni against Austria, and won 12 of his 14 duels as one half of an impressive double pivot.
Fofana was released by the academy at Clairefontaine in his youth, before rebuilding his career at RC Strasbourg Alsace and then Monaco, and he is delighted to have returned.
"When I learned that I was called up I said to myself '10 years later I have walked back through the front door at Clairefontaine, having left it through the back door', and that's good!" he told l'Equipe.
"Then I think of my parents and friends who put crazy trust in me. When I was little I missed this cathedral of French football with my parents. It's emotional to be back here. I proved to them and to myself that I could do it.
"When the coaches saw me, they were happy. They told me 'thank you for proving us wrong.'"
