France intend to continue their World Cup-winning momentum as qualification for the 2020 European Championships begins next week with matches against Moldova and Iceland. After a surprising 2-0 loss to Netherlands prevented France from reaching the finals of the inaugural Nations League, Les Blues will know that there is no resting on their laurels.
La première liste de l'année 2019 ! On retrouvera nos Bleus lundi à Clairefontaine pour débuter les Qualifications de l'@EURO2020 #FiersdetreBleus
— Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) March 14, 2019
Moldavie France (22/03)
France Islande (25/03) pic.twitter.com/E05quOlWMz
Accordingly, head coach Didier Deschamps selected a strong lineup, including three Chelsea names! That’s one more than usual, with young Kurt Zouma, currently on loan at Everton, joining the two usual suspects in N’Golo Kante and Olivier Giroud. Zouma has only made one national team appearance since 2015, with the ACL injury derailing not just his Chelsea but his France career as well.
France’s full 23-man squad for their March matches against Moldova and Iceland is as follows:
GOALKEEPERS: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Alphonse Areola (PSG);
DEFENDERS: Benjamin Pavard (VfB Stuttgart), Djibril Sidibé (AS Monaco), Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona), Raphaël Varane (Real Madrid), Presnel Kimpembe (PSG), Lucas Digne (Everton), Layvin Kurzawa (PSG), Kurt Zouma (Everton, on loan from Chelsea);
MIDFIELDERS: N’Golo Kanté (Chelsea), Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham Hotspur), Blaise Matuidi (Juventus), Tanguy N’Dombélé (Lyon);
FORWARDS: Kylian Mbappé (PSG), Antoine Griezmann (Atlético Madrid), Nabil Fékir (Lyon), Olivier Giroud (Chelsea), Florian Thauvin (Marseille), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Anthony Martial (Manchester United).
Good luck to them!