France name final squad for 2022 World Cup

France coach Didier Deschamps has named a final 25-player squad for the upcoming 2022 World Cup in Qatar, opting against selected the maximum number of players allowed: 26.

Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante are two big names missing, both forced to sit this one out because of injury, while the likes of Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni, William Saliba, Ibrahima Konate and Christopher Nkunku are each going to their first World Cup.

Bayern Munich are the signal most represented club side in the squad, with four players making the cut. Real Madrid have three players, while Paris Saint-Germain have just two.

25-player France squad - 2022 World Cup

Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola (West Ham), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Steve Mandanda (Rennes)

Defenders: Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Presnel Kimpembe (PSG), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich), Raphael Varane (Man Utd)

Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Youssouf Fofana (Monaco), Matteo Guendouzi (Marseille), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid), Jordan Veretout (Marseille)

Forwards: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona), Olivier Giroud (AC Milan), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Kylian Mbappe (PSG), Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig)

France head into the tournament in Qatar as holders following their victory in Russia four years ago. The last time they entered a World Cup finals as defending champions it ended in a humiliating disaster, stunned in the opening game by first-time qualifiers Senegal and getting knocked out at the group stage without a win or even a goal in any of their three matches.

This time, the French begin by facing Australia on 22 November, followed by games against Denmark and Tunisia over the next eight days.

Les Bleus are looking to become only the fourth country in the World Cup’s 92-year history to win a third title after Brazil, who have won five in total, and Italy and Germany, both on four.