Marcus Thuram was given the final position in the France team that will defend its World Cup championship in Qatar, and uncapped Axel Disasi was also called up on Monday when Presnel Kimpembe withdrew.
The Borussia Mönchengladbach attacker Thuram, 25, was reportedly added to Didier Deschamps’ list after the coach unveiled his team last week but only called in 25 players, leaving one position vacant.
At France’s training facility on Monday, Paris Saint-Germain defender Kimpembe spoke with Deschamps and the team’s physician and shared his concerns that he had not fully healed from an Achilles injury.
In a statement, France expressed gratitude to 27-year-old Kimpembe for his “honesty.”
Disasi, 24, has played every minute of Monaco’s 15 league games this year without missing a single one. In all competitions, he has contributed four assists and two goals.
Along with Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona), Olivier Giroud (AC Milan), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Kylian Mbappe (PSG), and Christopher Nkunku, Thuram will bolster France’s already excellent attacking group (Leipzig).
Thuram, the son of Lilian Thuram, who won the 1998 World Cup, has been in excellent form this season, scoring 13 goals and dishing out four assists across all competitions. He is a tall, adaptable player who works in several systems.
Being called up is “a dream and a pride,” he wrote on his Instagram page.
Thuram has played four times for France, however he hasn’t competed for the national team since the June 2016 European Championship.
Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante will miss the 2018 World Cup for France due to injuries, depriving Deschamps of his two finest midfielders.
Prior to starting their campaign against Australia on November 22, the team takes a flight to Qatar on Wednesday. After that, it plays Denmark before concluding its Group D games on November 30 against Tunisia.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola (West Ham), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Steve Mandanda (Rennes).
Defenders: Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Axel Disasi (Monaco), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich), Raphael Varane (Manchester United).
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 (Paris Saint-Germain), Christopher Nkunku (Leipzig), Marcus Thuram (Borussia Mönchengladbach).
