Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe has been recalled to the France squad for March’s UEFA Nations League double-header with Croatia.
The 26-year-old was memorably omitted from Didier Deschamps‘s selection for the October and November international windows, missing the former through an apparent injury.
Mbappe was simply left out of the Bleus selection for their final games of 2024, but Paris Saint-Germain’s all-time top scorer is unsurprisingly now back in the reckoning and will wear the armband this month.
Mbappe has made a swift return to the Bleus camp after finding his feet at Real Madrid, overcoming a slow start to register 28 goals in 42 appearances across all competitions so far this season.
The Blancos star comprises part of a seven-strong attacking unit for the 2018 world champions, and Deschamps has also rewarded PSG protege Desire Doue with a first call-up to the senior side.
The 19-year-old scored the winning penalty in PSG’s Champions League last-16 victory over Liverpool in midweek, and he boasts a total of seven goals and 11 assists from 38 matches in all tournaments this term.
Mbappe, Doue called up as N’Golo Kante left out
© Imago
Doue and Mbappe replace Christopher Nkunku and Kingsley Coman in attack for March’s matches, while Aurelien Tchouameni has also been recalled to the midfield pack in place of N’Golo Kante.
Chelsea‘s Wesley Fofana has also been omitted from Deschamps’s selection despite making his return from injury, as Benjamin Pavard, Ibrahima Konate, William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano represent the manager’s centre-back options.
Jonathan Clauss – who had to withdraw from the clash with Italy on November 17 due to injury – is also involved, while the goalkeeping trio of Mike Maignan, Brice Samba and Lucas Chevalier remains unchanged.
France travel to Split for the first leg of their Nations League quarter-final on March 20, three days before welcoming their 2018 World Cup final opponents to the Stade de France for the return fixture.
The winner of that tie will then face either the Netherlands or Spain in June’s semi-finals, before one of Italy, Germany, Denmark or Portugal awaits in the showpiece match on June 8.
France squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Lucas Chevalier (Lille), Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Brice Samba (Lens)
Defenders: Jonathan Clauss (Nice), Lucas Digne (Aston Villa), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), Benjamin Pavard (Inter), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)
Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Matteo Guendouzi (Lazio) Manu Kone (Roma), Adrien Rabiot (Marseille), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid), Warren Zaire-Emery (PSG).
Forwards: Bradley Barcola (PSG), Ousmane Dembele (PSG), Desire Doue (PSG) Randal Kolo Muani (PSG), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich) Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan)
