France head coach Zinedine Zidane is due to name his next squad on Friday, but several key players are still sidelined through injury before the selection. The doubts affect options in defence, midfield and attack.
Defensive concerns before the squad
GOAL, citing Foot Mercato, reported that William Saliba remains several weeks away from a return at centre-back. Maxence Lacroix is out with a tear in the knee tendons, an injury that could keep him out until the end of the year. Jules Kounde sat out Barcelona's two games against Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain with an ankle sprain. Benjamin Pavard is out injured.
Midfield fitness still unclear
Manu Koné looks unlikely to recover from a thigh injury before the next camp. Zidane is waiting on Aurélien Tchouaméni, Warren Zaïre-Emery and Adrien Rabiot. Rabiot scored in a Milan shirt during the derby with Inter on Saturday, a game his side won 3-1.
Attacking options under review
Ousmane Dembélé is out of the plans. Doubts surround Michael Olise, injured in the clash with Dortmund on Saturday. Esteban Lepaul is nursing a problem with his left ankle. GOAL, citing Téléfoot, reported that Marcus Thuram was one of the options available to Zidane to cover the attacking absences.
Kroupi working back to fitness
Eli Junior Kroupi spent several months out injured, but he is gradually rebuilding his sharpness and produced a decisive assist in a 22-minute cameo against Leeds.
