Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele are set to lead France’s attack after Didier Deschamps revealed his 26-man squad for the World Cup.
Mbappe currently has 56 goals for France. He needs two more to become France’s leading men’s goalscorer.
France’s Attacking Options
Ballon d’Or holder Ousmane Dembele will join Mbappe in the attack. Dembele scored 35 goals and won the Champions League with Paris St-Germain last season to become only the second French player this century to win the Ballon d’Or but is yet to score at a World Cup despite featuring in the past two squads.
Michael Olise and Desire Doue complete an exciting attacking quartet.
Premier League Representation
Man City playmaker Rayan Cherki and Arsenal defender William Saliba are among seven Premier League-based players in the squad.
Returning Champions
Lucas Hernandez and N’Golo Kante join Mbappe and Dembele as the only survivors from France’s 2018 World Cup-winning group.
Surprise Omissions
Deschamps has made a few surprise calls ahead of his final major tournament as head coach.
Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga and Tottenham’s Randal Kolo Muani will not be in the squad, despite involvement in 2022. PSG goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier also misses out. Uncapped Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser joins Brice Samba as back-up to Mike Maignan.
Liverpool’s Huge Ekitike, who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in April, is also absent.
Deschamps’ Squad Selection Philosophy
“It’s a squad. Not necessarily the 26 best players. It’s about balance and how the team comes together,” Deschamps told French TV channel TF1.
“I can imagine how disappointed [Camavinga] must be. He’s coming off a tough season where he didn’t play as much and suffered injuries. [But] I’ve got decisions to make and a squad to put together.”
World Cup Group Stage
France will begin their campaign against Senegal in New Jersey on 16 June. Further Group I matches against Iraq (22 June) and Norway (26 June) will follow.
France’s World Cup Squad
- Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Robin Risser (Lens), Brice Samba (Rennes)
- Defenders: Lucas Digne (Aston Villa), Malo Gusto (Chelsea), Lucas Hernandez (Paris St-Germain), Theo Hernandez (Al Hilal), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamenaco (Bayern Munich)
- Midfielders: N’Golo Kante (Fenerbache), Manu Kone (Roma), Adrien Rabiot (AC Milan), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid), Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris St-Germain)
- Forwards: Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco), Bradley Barcola (Paris St-Germain), Rayan Cherki (Man City), Ousmane Dembele (Paris St-Germain), Desire Doue (Paris St-Germain), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid), Jean-Phillipe Mateta (Crystal Palace), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan)
Deschamps has led France to back-to-back World Cup finals.