Zinedine Zidane confirmed on Friday that Kylian Mbappe will remain France captain after naming his first squad since succeeding Didier Deschamps as head coach of Les Bleus.
The Real Madrid forward impressed as captain at the World Cup, finishing as the tournament’s top scorer with 10 goals, although France were eliminated by eventual champions Spain in the semi-finals.
The tournament marked the end of Deschamps’ 14-year tenure as France coach, during which he led the team to the 2018 World Cup title.
Zidane, who played alongside Deschamps in the France teams that won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, was appointed as his successor at the end of July on a four-year contract.
His first matches in charge will come in the UEFA Nations League, beginning with an away fixture against Turkey next Friday before France face Belgium in Brussels on September 28.
Zidane’s first home match will be against Italy at the Stade de France on October 2, followed by another home game against Belgium three days later.
The 54-year-old former Ballon d’Or winner has included several new faces in his first squad.
Liverpool centre-back Jeremy Jacquet, 21, has earned his first call-up after impressing since joining the Premier League club during the close season.
Rennes striker Esteban Lepaul, who finished as Ligue 1’s top scorer last season, has also received his first call-up, while Como midfielder Lucas Da Cunha has been included.
Inter Milan midfielder or wing-back Andy Diouf and Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Restes are also among the newcomers.
Several players who featured at the World Cup were left out, including Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni and Inter Milan forward Marcus Thuram. Arsenal defender William Saliba misses out through injury.
France squad
Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan (AC Milan/ITA), Robin Risser (Lens), Guillaume Restes (Toulouse)
Defenders: Andy Diouf (Inter Milan/ITA), Jeremy Jacquet (Liverpool/ENG), Ibrahima Konate (Real Madrid/ESP), Pierre Kalulu (Juventus/ITA), Jules Kounde (Barcelona/ESP), Maxence Lacroix (Chelsea/ENG), Adrien Truffert (Bournemouth/ENG), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich/GER)
Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid/ESP), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City/ENG), Lucas Da Cunha (Como/ITA), Manu Kone (Roma/ITA), Adrien Rabiot (AC Milan/ITA), Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain)
Forwards: Bradley Barcola (Liverpool/ENG), Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue (both Paris Saint-Germain), Esteban Lepaul (Rennes), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid/ESP), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich/GER)
AFP
