Paris, May 18 (TNS): 1998 World Cup winners France, who are among the favorites to win the FIFA world cup 2018 announced their 23-man world cup squad on Friday.
France head coach Didier Deschamps took some surprising decisions, to take the best lot to Russia, in this summer’s quest to win the prestigious trophy.
Deschamps left out Marseille winger Dmitri Payet after he suffered a season-ending injury in the final of the Europa League.
Meanwhile, Manchester United’s winger Anthony Martial and Arsenal’s Alexandre Lacazette have been included in the standby list, which was surprising for many.
Mamadou Sakho, Kurt Zouma, and Moussa Sissoko also make a strong standby list, as back-up for the main 23-man squad, in case of injuries occur.
France will start their world cup journey against Australia on June 16 and will then take on Peru and Denmark, in a four-nation group stage.
France World Cup squad:
Goalkeepers: Alphone Areola (Paris St Germain), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Steve Mandanda (Olympique de Marseille)
Defenders: Lucas Hernandez (Atletico Madrid), Presnel Kimpembe (Paris St Germain), Benjamin Pavard (VfB Stuttgart), Benjamin Mendy (Manchester City), Djibril Sidibe (Monaco), Adil Rami (Olympique de Marseille), Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid)
Midfielders: Blaise Matuidi (Juventus), N’Golo Kante (Chelsea), Steven N’Zonzi (Sevilla), Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Corentin Tolisso (Bayern Munich)
Forwards: Olivier Giroud (Chelsea), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Kylian Mbappe (Paris St Germain), Thomas Lemar (Monaco), Nabil Fekir (Olympique Lyonnais), Florian Thauvin (Olympique de Marseille), Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona)
