Deschamps did not call up Olivier Giroud for the France squad
France national team coach did not include Olivier Giroud in his squad and urged his players to secure a World Cup place
Didier Deschamps
has urged his players to finish this year with a high note as the World Cup champions want to secure a place in Qatar 2022.
After the Euro 2020 disappointment, where France were eliminated in round two at the hands of Switzerland, they won the Nations League.
Since 2021’s final internationals are coming up, they can be sure of a comeback to the biggest stage. France will lock horns with Kazakhstan on November 13 and then Finland after three days. Should they beat Kazakhstan, they will secure their place in the next-year’s final.
Deschamps wants that as soon as possible, saying:
"You know what happened this summer, with our early elimination at the Euros. That didn't stop us from doing good things with the joy of winning the Nations League.
"If you add in the qualifiers, that made it three goals for us in the same year, which is rare.
"Let's make sure we get two out of three to have the peace of mind to go into next year, which will be a special year with the World Cup in November."
Deschamps’ 23-player squad that was revealed on Thursday has no surprises, and Olivier Giroud has yet to return. The striker, who is France’s all-time leading scorers, last played in their defeat to the Swiss in June.
Deschamps believes that Giroud, who is building up his fitness at the Rossoneri, is "doing some interesting things" when he features for Milan. He was in the starting XI against Porto in the Champions League on Wednesday.
"
He is not there, but he is one of the serious candidates,"
Deschamps said.
"I can only encourage him to keep doing what he does very well."
Kurt Zouma received a recall after pulling off great performances since departing Chelsea for their London rivals, and Alphonse Areola, who is playing for the Hammers on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, was also called up to replace injured Mike Maignan.
However, Anthony Martial and Raphael Varane are going to miss out as the duo have been struggling with injuries.
France squad:
Alphonse Areola (West Ham, on loan from Paris Saint-Germain), Benoit Costil (Bordeaux), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham); Lucas Digne (Everton), Leo Dubois (Lyon), Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich), Theo Hernandez (Milan), Presnel Kimpembe (Paris Saint-Germain), Jules Kounde (Sevilla), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich), Kurt Zouma (West Ham); Matteo Guendouzi (Marseille, on loan from Arsenal), N'Golo Kante (Chelsea), Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Aurelien Tchouameni (Monaco); Wissam Ben Yedder (Monaco), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Moussa Diaby (Bayer Leverkusen), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain).
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