Ibrahima Konate, a defender for Liverpool, has been selected to play for France in their upcoming matches against the Netherlands and Scotland in October. However, Axel Disasi from Chelsea did not make the cut. Konate had to withdraw from September’s games due to a thigh injury but has since recovered and played for Jurgen Klopp’s team in the past few weeks.
Konate has predominantly been used in the EFL Cup and Europa League, with Joel Matip preferred alongside Virgil van Dijk in the heart of Klopp’s defense in the Premier League.
Nevertheless, the former RB Leipzig man finds himself back in Didier Deschamps’s selection for this month’s fixtures, while there is also a return for Marseille right-back Jonathan Clauss.
Konate’s recall means that Nice’s Jean-Clair Todibo – the man who replaced him last month – is cut from the ranks, while Chelsea’s Axel Disasi has been dropped in favor of Clauss.
There are few surprises elsewhere in Deschamps’s selection, but N’Golo Kante, Warren Zaire-Emery and Moussa Diaby are among the notable absentees from the 23-strong group.
France have won each of their first five Euro 2024 qualifying matches to open up a six-point lead over the Netherlands – who they face in Amsterdam on October 13 – at the top of Group B.
Following their showdown with Oranje at the Johan Cruyff Arena, Les Bleus welcome Scotland to the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille for a friendly on October 17.
FRANCE SQUAD IN FULL:
Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola (West Ham United), Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Brice Samba (Lens)
Defenders: Jonathan Clauss (Marseille), Lucas Hernandez (Paris Saint-Germain), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), Benjamin Pavard (Inter Milan), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)
Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Youssouf Fofana (Monaco), Boubacar Kamara (Aston Villa) Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid)
Forwards: Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Ousmane Dembele (PSG), Olivier Giroud (AC Milan), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Randal Kolo Muani (Eintracht Frankfurt), Kylian Mbappe (PSG), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan)
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