Didier Deschamps names shock recall in France's Euro 2024 squad
- Deschamps confirmed his Euro 2024 squad live on French television
- N'Golo Kante named among 25-player selection after nearly two-year absence
- Les Bleus to face Austria, Netherlands & Poland in group stage
France coach Didier Deschamps revealed his 25-player squad for Euro 2024 live on television on Thursday night, with N'Golo Kante's return to the fold the headline news.
Kante, who turned 33 in March, hasn't played for France in almost two years. He was ruled out for most of the 2022/23 club campaign with injury, forcing him to also miss the World Cup in Qatar, but has returned to full fitness this season with Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.
The former Chelsea midfielder was part of the French side that won the World Cup in 2018, having earlier reached the final at Euro 2016 in his first international tournament.
Kylian Mbappe captains the team, while 37-year-old Olivier Giroud, who is leaving Europe for LAFC in July, will be seeking to extend his record as France's all-time top scorer.
The majority of the squad is the same as went to Qatar in 2022, but Warren Zaire-Emery and the uncapped Bradley Barcola will be going to a senior tournament for the first time.
25-player France squad
Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola (West Ham), Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Brice Samba (Lens)
Defenders: Jules Kounde (Barcelona), Jonathan Clauss (Marseille), Benjamin Pavard (Inter), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid)
Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Youssouf Fofana (Monaco), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Warren Zaire-Emery (PSG), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), N’Golo Kante (Al Ittihad)
Forwards: Bradley Barcola (PSG), Ousmane Dembele (PSG), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich, Olivier Giroud (AC Milan), Randal Kolo Muani (PSG), Kylian Mbappe (PSG), Marcus Thuram (Inter)
France will play warm-up friendlies against Luxembourg and Canada in Metz and Bordeaux respectively, before making the short trip across the border to Germany for the tournament. Their Group D opener against Austria is scheduled for 17 June, before also facing Netherlands and Poland.
As World Cup finalists in 2022, France are among the favourites. But Les Bleus haven’t won the European Championship since Deschamps himself lifted the trophy as a player back in 2000.
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