France's injury crisis: Kounde and Maignan, are also on the list

Didier Deschamps

has called up Rennes' Steve Mandanda to replace the injured

and

for France's upcoming match in Denmark.

France defeated Austria 2-0 on Thursday thanks to goals from

Kylian Mbappe

and Olivier Giroud, but their injury crisis got worse at the Stade de France. Paul Pogba, a midfielder for Juventus, is questionable for the World Cup after undergoing knee surgery. He joins the likes of

Karim Benzema

, Kingsley Coman, N'Golo Kante, and others absent for Deschamps' team's final Nations League matches.

They were already shorthanded before the 23-minute withdrawal of Barcelona's newest signing Kounde against Austria, and now we know that Maignan was in pain before leaving at halftime.

The French Football Federation announced Friday that Mike Maignan had to be replaced by Alphonse Areola at halftime of Thursday night's France-Austria match at the Stade de France due to left calf soreness.

The Milan goalkeeper will be unavailable for Sunday's match in Copenhagen against Denmark. Didier Deschamps brought in Steve Mandanda as a replacement.

"The Milan goalkeeper will not be able to play against Denmark on Sunday in Copenhagen. To replace him, Didier Deschamps called on Steve Mandanda.  Maignan will leave the group during the day, as will Jules Kounde, who is suffering from a left hamstring injury. Both players will take exams in the morning before being released to their club. Kounde will not be replaced in the group that will arrive in Copenhagen on Saturday."

From his 2008 debut onward, Mandanda has amassed 34 senior-level caps for France, and he was a key member of the squad that won the 2018 World Cup in

Russia

.

With Croatia and

fighting for first place in Group A1, France still has a chance of being demoted from the Nations League's elite and missing out on the tournament's finals.

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