France national football team coach Didier Deschamps on Thursday named a new squad without Antoine Griezmann, who announced the end of his international career earlier this week. Captain Kylian Mbappé has been left out of the Nations League matches to allow him to recover from an injury.
Thursday's squad announcement was the first Deschamps’ first since Griezmann, the team’s vice captain, retired from international football earlier in the week.
In his absence, English-born Bayern Munich midfielder Michael Olise was called up. He won his first two caps against Italy and Belgium last month.
Also returning to the squad is Chelsea's Christopher Nkunku, who won the last of his 10 caps in June last year.
Mbappé, who has been struggling with a thigh injury, and who appeared as a substitute in the surprise 1-0 defeat at Lille in the Champions League on Wednesday, has been left out of the team’s Nations League matches against Israel and Belgium later this month.
"He has a problem that is not serious. I'm not here to take risks, which is why Kylian isn't on the list," Deschamps told a press conference.
Les Bleus are second in Group A2 with three points from two games, three points behind Italy. They face Israel in Budapest on 10 October, and Belgium in Brussels four days later.
(with AFP, Reuters)
