Yedder and Lucas earn maiden international call-up for France

Paris, March 16: The head coach of France national football team, Didier Deschamps has announced the 24-man squad for the upcoming international friendly matches.

Before the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Deschamps has only two international matches to look at some players for the final time. France will meet against Colombia at home (Saint-Denis) on March 23 and then they will play against the hosts Russia on March 27 (at Saint Petersburg).

The French coach has made total 8 changes from the last November’s squad.

22-years old defender Lucas Hernandez and 27-years old striker Wissam Ben Yedder have earned their maiden international call-up. During the team announcement, Deschamps praised both of them.

Sevilla striker Wissam Ben Yedder is now one of the new football sensations after his two goals at Old Trafford kicked out Manchester United from the UEFA Champion League 2017/18 in this week.

Talking about Ben Yedder, the 49-year-old French head coach has pointed out his consistency goal-scoring abilities.

According to the goal, Deschamps mentioned, "It [his call-up] is not just [because of] the two goals at Old Trafford. Even if it comes to his credit. He has played four or five seasons with more than 15 goals. He does not play every game, but he has the ability to score when he comes on. This is not the case with everyone. He has a different profile, he has mobility and liveliness. It is extremely effective."

On the other hand, Deschamps has also called-up young Atletico Madrid defender Lucas Hernandez, who was wising to play for Spanish national team. Speaking about him, the French coach said that Lucas is happy to join with the French national team.

Deschamps further mentioned, “I will never call up a player to prevent him from choosing another nation. He is a young player used to international competitions, it [his call-up] does not happen by chance."

Apart from that, Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba have returned to the squad. While Lloris had missed out the last November squad, Pogba has not featured the national squad since last September due to a thigh injury.

While most of the recent regular players are listed in the squad, Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette has been not named who is suffering from a knee injury.

24-member French squad for March international friendlies:

Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola (Paris Saint-Germain), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Steve Mandanda (Marseille)

Defenders: Lucas Digne (Barcelona), Lucas Hernandez (Atletico Madrid), Presnel Kimpembe (PSG), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Benjamin Pavard (Stuttgart), Djibril Sidibe (Monaco), Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid)

Midfielders: N'Golo Kante (Chelsea), Thomas Lemar (Monaco), Blaise Matuidi (Juventus), Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Adrien Rabiot (PSG), Corentin Tolisso (Bayern Munich)

Forwards: Wissam Ben Yedder (Sevilla), Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona), Olivier Giroud (Chelsea), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Anthony Martial (Manchester United), Kylian Mbappe (PSG), Florent Thauvin (Marseille).