France’s World Cup roster reveal on Thursday included a star-studded assortment of talent, with Real Madrid infielder Eduardo Camavinga arguably the most notable omission.
Currently No. 1 in the FIFA Men’s World Ranking, France are one of the clear pre-tournament favorites with manager Didier Deschamps’ roster led by Kylian Mbappe. He will be joined by the likes of forwards Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise, midfielders Aurelien Tchouameni and N’Golo Kante, defenders William Saliba, Jules Kounde and Theo Hernandez and goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
Camavinga did not figure into the 26-man roster despite being part of France’s runner-up team in 2022. He was called up for March friendlies but has been passed over at Real Madrid by Thiago Pitarch.
“He had a difficult season for him where he played less. He also had injuries,” Deschamps said. “It’s true that he’s a player who came very early with us. He is still a young player.
“Because I have choices to make the squad structure also has to be even among the defenders, the midfielders and the forwards. But I understand and I imagine his enormous disappointment this evening.”
Deschamps also opted to go with Rennes’ Brice Samba and Lens’ Robin Risser, who was named the top goalkeeper of Ligue 1 this season, as Maignan’s backups. That meant leaving off Lucas Chevalier, who lost the starting job at Paris Saint-Germain to Matvei Safonov earlier this year.
“The main criteria is sporting performance,” Deschamps said. “I understand that Lucas Chevalier may be disappointed, but he hasn’t played for several months anymore. At the time when he could have had some playing time, he didn’t get any.”
France will play pre-World Cup friendlies against Ivory Coast and Northern Ireland before traveling to their World Cup base camp in Boston. They will begin their Group I play against Senegal on June 16 before matches against Iraq on June 22 and Norway on June 26.
“There are expectations and demands, of course,” Deschamps said. “That’s also our fault, because if we are where we are today, it’s because we’ve won a lot of matches — more than our opponents. That we are among the favorites is only natural, but there are other teams too. I could name six or seven.
“This is a World Cup, the biggest competition of them all. The very best teams are there.”
Two other notable players not on the final roster were Tottenham’s Randal Kolo Muani and Rennes’ Esteban Lepaul, Ligue 1’s leading scorer. Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta is on the squad despite not being included in March friendlies while overcoming a knee injury. He will help fill the void created by Hugo Ekitike absence due to a ruptured Achilles tendon.
This will be the final World Cup for Deschamps, who led the team to the 2018 title. He is widely expected to be replaced by former national team legend Zinedine Zidane.
France also won the World Cup in 1998.
FRANCE WORLD CUP ROSTER
Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Robin Risser (Lens), Brice Samba (Rennes)
Defenders: Malo Gusto (Chelsea), Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), Lucas Digne (Aston Villa), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich), Lucas Hernandez (Paris Saint-Germain), Theo Hernandez (Al Hilal)
Midfielders: Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid), Adrien Rabiot (AC Milan), N’Golo Kante (Fenerbahce), Manu Kone (Roma), Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain)
Forwards: Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain), Bradley Barcola (Paris Saint-Germain), Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan), Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco), Desire Doue (Paris Saint-Germain), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)
–Field Level Media
