Zinedine Zidane has pulled a few surprises with his first France squad, where he’ll also face Italy in the Nations League, calling Inter’s Andy Diouf and Como midfielder Lucas Da Cunha, but not Marcus Thuram.
Les Bleus are in Nations League Group A and will make their debut against Vincenzo Montella’s Turkiye on September 25, then visit Belgium on September 28.
They host Italy in Paris on October 2, then Belgium on October 5.
It is the first squad called by new coach Zidane, who took over from Didier Deschamps following the 2026 World Cup fourth place finish.
He has given debut calls to Inter winger Diouf and Como midfielder Da Cunha, along with Rennes forward Esteban Lepaul.
However, big names were cut, including Inter striker Marcus Thuram, ex-Milan full-back Theo Hernandez, and Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchaouameni.
He does have room for Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan and midfielder Adrien Rabiot, along with Roma’s breakout star of the World Cup with France, Manu Koné, and Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu.
France squad for Nations League
Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan (Milan), Guillaume Restes (Toulouse), Robin Risser (Lens),
Defenders: Andy Diouf (Inter Milan), Jérémy Jacquet (Liverpool), Pierre Kalulu (Juventus), Ibrahima Konaté (Real Madrid), Jules Koundé (Barcelona), Malo Gusto (Chelsea), Maxence Lacroix (Chelsea), Adrien Truffert (Bournemouth), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)
Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), Lucas Da Cunha (Como), Manu Koné (Roma), Adrien Rabiot (Milan), Warren Zaïre-Emery (PSG)
Forwards: Bradley Barcola (Liverpool), Ousmane Dembélé (PSG), Désiré Doué (PSG), Estéban Lepaul (Rennes), Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich).
