SPORTS: MBAPPE RETURNS TO FRANCE SQUAD AS PSG’S DOUE EARNS FIRST CALL-UP
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Desire Doue, a teenager for Paris Saint-Germain, received his first call-up, and captain Kylian Mbappe was back in the France squad on Thursday for this month’s UEFA Nations League quarterfinal matchup against Croatia.
Coach Didier Deschamps excluded the 26-year-old Mbappe from France’s last two selections for the October and November Nations League group stage.
The Real Madrid player was first benched due to fitness issues, and then he was excluded amid reports concerning his personal life.
Because of the commotion surrounding Mbappe, Deschamps claimed at the time that his choice to forego the striker was “for the best.”
Mbappe has been in fine form for Real in the months since and has scored 28 goals in all competitions this season for the club he joined last year.
“I have chatted with him and I confirm what I already said a few weeks ago, that he will be the captain,” Deschamps said in response to questions about Mbappe’s ongoing role as skipper.
The versatile Doue, meanwhile, has been rewarded for his impressive club form.
Since joining PSG as a regular in mid-December, the 19-year-old has made 23 appearances and scored or assisted on 17 goals.
In Tuesday’s Champions League last 16 second leg against Liverpool, Doué, who can play both in midfield and as a winger, came off the bench for PSG and scored the game-winning penalty kick.
Doue, who was a member of Thierry Henry’s France Under-23 squad that took home the silver medal from the Paris Olympics last year, was signed by PSG from Rennes in August for an estimated 50 million euros ($54.1 million).
“He doesn’t always start for his team, but he has improved every time he plays or enters the game,” Deschamps stated.
Since joining PSG as a regular in mid-December, the 19-year-old has made 23 appearances and scored or assisted on 17 goals.
In Tuesday’s Champions League last 16 second leg against Liverpool, Doué, who can play both in midfield and as a winger, came off the bench for PSG and scored the game-winning penalty kick.
Doue, who was a member of Thierry Henry’s France Under-23 squad that took home the silver medal from the Paris Olympics last year, was signed by PSG from Rennes in August for an estimated 50 million euros ($54.1 million).
“He doesn’t always start for his team, but he has improved every time he plays or enters the game,” Deschamps stated.
“He is a very young player but he is an interesting one for us. I could have waited but I have called him up now because I think it is the right time.”
France face Croatia away in Split in the first leg of the quarter-final next Thursday, March 20, in a tie that is a repeat of the 2018 World Cup final won by Les Bleus.
The sides will clash in the second leg at the Stade de France on Sunday, March 23.
The winners will advance to the final four, which will take place in either Italy or Germany in June.
N’Golo Kante is the most notable absentee from the squad, with Deschamps revealing that the Saudi Arabia-based midfielder has been nursing a minor muscle injury.
Squad Goalkeepers: Lucas Chevalier (Lille), Mike Maignan (AC Milan/ITA), Brice Samba (Rennes)
Defenders: Jonathan Clauss (Nice), Lucas Digne (Aston Villa/ENG), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan/ITA), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool/ENG), Jules Kounde (Barcelona/ESP), Benjamin Pavard (Inter Milan/ITA), William Saliba (Arsenal/ENG), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich/GER)
Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid/ESP), Matteo Guendouzi (Lazio/ITA), Manu Kone (Roma/ITA), Adrien Rabiot (Marseille), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid/ESP), Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain)
Forwards: Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue (all Paris Saint-Germain), Randal Kolo Muani (Juventus/ITA, on loan from Paris Saint-Germain), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid/ESP), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich/GER), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan/ITA)
AFP
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