Cherki and Kalulu earn first France call-ups for Nations League finals

France national team boss Didier Deschamps revealed this Wednesday afternoon his squad for the Nations League finals. Lyon playmaker Rayan Cherki (21) has earned his first senior call-up with Les Bleus. France will take on Spain on Thursday, June 5, at Stuttgart in the semi-finals. Should they win, they would face either Germany or Portugal in the Nations League final on Sunday, June 8, in Munich.

Cherki has already represented France at youth levels. He notably took part in France’s run to the silver medal with Thierry Henry’s Olympic football team. The Lyon Academy product could still switch his national team allegiance to Algeria and Italy, unless he features for France in a competitive game. Deschamps has called up an expanded squad given he would have little time to prepare for the Nations League semi-finals against Spain. The France national team manager notably picked 7 players set to be involved in the Champions League final between PSG and Inter Milan.

Several key members of the France squad will miss out through injury, such as Arsenal centre-back William Saliba, Bayern Munich centre-back Dayot Upamecano, Barcelona right-back Jules Koundé and Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga. Chelsea centre-back Wesley Fofana did not make the cut as well, which prompted Deschamps to call up Juventus’ Pierre Kalulu for the first time. Malo Gusto, Clément Lenglet and Loïc Badé have also been recalled.

Goalkeepers: Lucas Chevalier (Lille), Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Brice Samba (Lens)

Defenders: Loïc Badé (Sevilla), Lucas Digne (Aston Villa), Malo Gusto (Chelsea), L. Hernandez (PSG), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Pierre Kalulu (Juventus), Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool), Clément Lenglet (Atlético Madrid), Benjamin Pavard (Inter)

Midfielders: Matteo Guendouzi (Lazio) Manu Koné (Roma), Adrien Rabiot (Marseille), Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid), Warren Zaïre-Emery (PSG).

Forwards: Bradley Barcola (PSG), Rayan Cherki (Lyon), Ousmane Dembélé (PSG), Désiré Doué (PSG) Randal Kolo Muani (PSG), Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich) Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan).