France coach Didier Deschamps, announced his squad for Les Bleus' friendly match against Ukraine (7 October) and the Nations League clashes with Portugal (11 October) and Croatia (14 October).
Camavinga Act II, Aouar Act I. Eduardo Camavinga (17 years old, one cap), who made a remarkable debut for Les Bleus off the bench against Croatia in September, was again called up by the coach. He is not the only player from the Stade Rennais FC to be part of the squad, as his 'big brother' Steven Nzonzi also gets a second consecutive call-up.
Meanwhile Houssem Aouar, who was to celebrate his first call-up for the new season before contracting COVID-19 at the last minute, will finally get to join his senior-team squad-mates at Clairefontaine. Despite missing a league match through suspension, the Olympique Lyonnais midfielder has continued to shine in Ligue 1 Uber Eats and evidently Deschamps did not fail to notice.
A busy programme
In addition to Houssem Aouar, Eduardo Camavinga and Steven Nzonzi, the coach has called on six other Ligue 1 Uber Eats players: Steve Mandanda (OM), Mike Maignan (LOSC), Presnel Kimpembe (PSG), Léo Dubois (OL), Wissam Ben Yedder (AS Monaco) and Kylian Mbappé (PSG).
A month after their return to competition as the second edition of the League of Nations got under way, Les Bleus are back, this time for three matches - one more than is usual for international breaks. France will face Ukraine (7 October, Stade de France) in a friendly, followed by Portugal (11 October, Stade de France) and Croatia (14 October, Zagreb) in the Nations League.
The 24-man squad:
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham, ENG), Steve Mandanda (OM), Mike Maignan (LOSC).
Defenders: Léo Dubois (Olympique Lyonnais), Presnel Kimpembe (PSG), Lucas Digne (Everton, ANG), Clément Lenglet (FC Barcelona, ESP), Dayot Upamecano (RB Leipzig, GER), Raphaël Varane (Real Madrid, ESP), Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich, GER), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich, GER)
Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Stade Rennais F.C.), Paul Pogba (Manchester United, ANG), N'Golo Kanté (Chelsea, ANG), Steven Nzonzi (Stade Rennais F.C.), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus, ITA), Corentin Tolisso (Bayern Munich, GER)
Forwards: Wissam Ben Yedder (AS Monaco), Houssem Aouar (OL), Olivier Giroud (Chelsea, ANG), Antoine Griezmann (FC Barcelona, ESP), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich, GER), Anthony Martial (Manchester United, ANG), Kylian Mbappé (PSG).