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France squad pose for team photo ahead of Euro qualifiers

  /  autty

France marked the beginning of a new qualification campaign with a team photograph as the reigning world champions start on the road to Euro 2020.

Dider Deschamps and his squad kitted themselves out and posed for a team group photograph at their Clairefontaine training base on Wednesday.

Hotshot striker Kylian Mbappe couldn't resist getting a feel of the ball as he practised his dribbling in front of his team-mates and the coaching staff.

And there was clearly a jovial atmosphere as France prepare to take on Moldova on Friday and Iceland on Monday in their opening two European Championship qualifiers.

Spirits are high in the French camp and little wonder given qualification Group H has paired them with Iceland, Turkey, Albania, Moldova and Andorra and should see them reach next year's finals with plenty to spare.

The top two in each of the 10 qualifying groups progress automatically to the finals tournament, which will be staged at 12 venues across Europe rather than just one host nation.

France did actually draw 2-2 with Iceland in a friendly match back in October, amid a UEFA Nations League campaign that saw them finish behind Holland.

They will head to Moldova without Manchester United striker Anthony Martial, who withdrew from the squad earlier this week after suffering a right knee injury.

Martial sustained the injury during United's 2-1 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup quarter-final on Saturday evening.

It is a frustrating blow for Martial, who had been recalled by Deschamps for the first time in a year off the back of a positive season at United.

Thomas Lemar of Atletico Madrid was called into the squad in his place.

Related: France