Raphael Varane and William Saliba in as Didier Deschamps selects just 25 players in France’s World Cup squad as Kylian Mbappe leads lethal attack alongside Karim Benzema, Antoine Griezmann and Christopher Nkunku
Raphael Varane is going to Qatar with France despite picking up an injury less than three weeks ago.
The eagerly-awaited announcement was made live on state channel TF1 in an intimate affair where manager Didier Deschamps sat and announced his squad to the watching nation.
The 1998 World Cup winning captain only selected 25 players of 26 permitted and said he was concerned that there was still time for his squad to pick up injuries before he submits his final squad to FIFA on Monday night.
“To be totally honest, this has not been the easiest selection," Deschamps explained. “ It is the same for all the other national team managers. Players recovering from injury, players who got injured last night, who could get injured tonight."
Deschamps was in buoyant mood as he confirmed the inclusion of Varane who was an injury doubt following a hamstring injury picked up in Manchester United ‘s 1-1 draw at Chelsea on October 22.
The former Real Madrid ace joined Arsenal’s William Saliba, Presnel Kimpembe and Dayot Upamecano in the squad.
Jules Kounde and Benjamin Pavard will battle it out at right-back whilst brothers Lucas and Theo Hernandez join Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate in completing Deschamps' defensive options.
Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris will captain France in what will be his fourth World Cup with West Ham shot stopper Alphonse Areola and the evergreen Steve Mandanda as his understudies.
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Adrien Rabiot, Aurelien Tchouameni, Youssouf Fofana and Matteo Guendouzi made the cut in midfield and they were joined by surprise inclusion, Jordan Veretout of Marseille, the only player to have not played any minutes for the national team in 2022, and Real Madrid’s rising star Eduardo Camavinga.
Paul Pogba, who released a video earlier on Wednesday testing out his long-term knee injury, was left out of the squad for Qatar, as was Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante.
In attack, Deschamps was able to show off an embarrassment of riches as he named Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema and future candidate for the award, Kylian Mbappe, who was one of the stars of the show four years ago.
The pair were joined by Ousmane Dembele, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann and Christopher Nkunku.
France get their World Cup campaign under way on November 22 when they face Australia before clashes with Denmark and Tunisia.
Les Bleus could become the first team to successfully defend the trophy since Brazil in 1962.
France's 2022 World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Alphonse Areola (West Ham), Steve Mandanda (Rennes).
Defenders: Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), Raphael Varane (Manchester United), Presnel Kimpembe (PSG), William Saliba (Arsenal), Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich), Theo Hernandez (Milan), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich).
Midfielders: Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid), Youssouf Fofana (Monaco), Mattéo Guendouzi (Marseille), Jordan Veretout (Marseille), Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid)
Attackers: Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona), Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Olivier Giroud (Milan), Antoine Griezmann (Atlético Madrid), Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig).
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