Injured Pogba out of France squad, doubtful for Liverpool clash

The injured Paul Pogba will miss France's next two Euro 2020 qualifiers, but Kylian Mbappe and N'Golo Kante return for the world champions.

Published : Oct 03, 2019 19:41 IST

Kylian Mbappe in action for France
Kylian Mbappe in action for France
lightbox-info

Kylian Mbappe in action for France

Kylian Mbappe, N'Golo Kante, Presnel Kimpembe and Steve Mandanda have been recalled to France's squad for its Euro 2020 qualifiers against Iceland and Turkey, but  Paul Pogba  is out through injury.

After missing last month's victories over Albania and Andorra due to a hamstring problem, Mbappe has returned to action with two substitute appearances for Paris Saint-Germain and regains his place in Didier Deschamps' selection.

Kante is also included after injury issues led to him missing September's qualifiers, while defender Kimpembe and veteran goalkeeper Mandanda have been rewarded for strong starts to the season with PSG and Marseille respectively.

However, there is again no place for Pogba, who is facing further treatment on the ankle injury that hampered him earlier in the season.

READ |  Tammy Abraham undecided on international future

The Manchester United star was initially named in the group for the September internationals but sat out - replaced by Matteo Guendouzi - before returning to club duty in an EFL Cup tie against Rochdale last week.

Pogba then played 90 minutes against Arsenal on Monday, but he was left out of United's squad for Thursday's Europa League meeting with AZ as manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed the midfielder required "further treatment and rest".

"It's a new worry with his ankle. He played in the [EFL] Cup, he played again on Monday against Arsenal. He again has a problem that's going to keep him out of action for three weeks. I'd prefer he was there like all the available players but unfortunately he isn’t in a physical state to be present," Deschamps revealed.

World champion  France  sits second in Group H, its only qualifying loss so far having come at the hands of Turkey in June.

Deschamps' men face Iceland in Reykjavik next Friday before hosting Turkey, the group leader, at the Stade de France the following Monday.

France squad: Alphonse Areola (Real Madrid), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Steve Mandanda (Marseille); Lucas Digne (Everton), Leo Dubois (Lyon), Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich), Presnel Kimpembe (Paris Saint-Germain), Clement Lenglet (Barcelona), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid), Kurt Zouma (Chelsea); N'Golo Kante (Chelsea), Blaise Matuidi (Juventus), Tanguy Ndombele (Tottenham), Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham), Corentin Tolisso (Bayern Munich); Wissam Ben Yedder (Monaco), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Olivier Giroud (Chelsea), Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona), Jonathan Ikone (Lille), Thomas Lemar (Atletico Madrid), Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain).

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment