Zinedine Zidane named his second France squad on Friday since taking charge of Les Bleus, with the head coach preparing for the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Italy and Turkey.
His first announcement last September was eagerly awaited, and now Zidane leads the French national team into another international window. Les Bleus travel to Italy on 12 November before hosting Turkey on 15 November. Two decisive matches will settle the race for a place in the quarter-finals, and a draw is enough for France to book their passage to the next round.
Injuries have left the former Real Madrid coach plenty to juggle this international break. William Saliba (Arsenal), Jules Koundé (Barcelona), Maxence Lacroix (Chelsea), Manu Koné (Roma), Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain) and Esteban Lepaul (Rennes) are all out.
Defender Dayot Upamecano adds to the list, suspended for the clash against Italy. That shortage has pushed Zidane to call on new faces and familiar names alike.
The biggest surprise? Forward Pablo Pagis earns a first senior call-up. Aurélien Tchouaméni returns to the midfield, while Malo Gusto comes in to cover the injured Koundé. Andy Diouf, Jérémy Jacquet and Lucas Da Cunha also make the cut.
Up front, Zidane leans on the goalscoring instincts of Kylian Mbappé and Michael Olise, alongside Bradley Barcola, Désiré Doué and the returning Marcus Thuram. Eduardo Camavinga, Rayan Cherki, Adrien Rabiot and Warren Zaïre-Emery marshal the midfield alongside Tchouaméni, in a 23-man squad built to fight for qualification.
France top Group One with 10 points. Italy sit second on 7, ahead of third-placed Belgium on 6, while Turkey prop up the standings without a single point.
Below is the France squad:
Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan (Milan), Guillaume Restes (Toulouse), Robin Risser (Lens)
Defence: Andy Diouf (Inter Milan), Malo Gusto (Chelsea), Jérémy Jacquet (Liverpool), Pierre Kalulu (Juventus), Ibrahima Konaté (Real Madrid), Adrien Truffert (Bournemouth), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich), Leny Yoro (Manchester United)
Midfield: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), Lucas Da Cunha (Como), Adrien Rabiot (Milan), Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid), Warren Zaïre-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain)
Attack: Bradley Barcola (Liverpool), Désiré Doué (Paris Saint-Germain), Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Pablo Pagis (Paris FC), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan)