PARIS (AP) – French midfielder Paul Pogba ruled the national team on Thursday after testing positive for COVID-19.
Manchester United has been replaced by 17-year-old Eduardo Camavinga for the upcoming League of Nations qualifiers against Sweden and Croatia.
“I had to make a replacement at the last minute because Paul Pogba was supposed to be a component of the team,” said French coach Didier Deschamps. “Unfortunately for him, he made a review that was positive this morning.”
United players are expected to return for pre-season education on Wednesday, and to start the season with a week-delay due to their participation in the final stages of the Europa League.
While the Premier League’s top bands begin their new crusade on the weekend of September 12-13, United begins the following weekend with a home game against Crystal Palace.
Camavinga made a quick impression with Rennes last season, where he excelled in a win over French champion Paris Saint-Germain when he was only 16.
It is one of the three new faces, and Deschamps turned to 22-year-old offensive midfielder Houssem Aouar and mid-centre Dayot Upamecano, 21.
Aouar excelled for Lyon on his way to the Champions League semi-finals, while Upamecano was one of Leipzig’s most productive players as he also reached the quarter-finals in Lisbon.
Deschamps also recalled by surprise Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot, who fought with the coach after asking to be removed from the reserve list for the 2018 World Cup.
“It was a mistake on your part. What happened, I’m not someone who likes to take radical positions,” Deschamps said. I’d like to think he’ll be here on Monday. Then I’ll have a chance to communicate with him. “
Anthony Martial has regained his position in the team after an impressive season with Manchester United, where he finished as the club’s wisest goalscorer with 17 Premier League goals. He last played for France in March 2018.
France will travel to Sweden near Stockholm on September 5 and then receive Croatia at the Stade de France 3 days later.
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Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Mike Maignan (Lille), Steve Mandanda (Marseille)
Defenders: Lucas Digne (Everton), Léo Dubois (Lyon), Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich), Presnel Kimpembe (Paris Saint-Germain), Clément Lenglet (Barcelona), Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid), Dayot Upamecano (Leipzig), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid)
Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Rennes), N’Golo Kanté (Chelsea), Steven Nzonzi (Rennes), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham), Houssem Aouar (Lyon)
Forwards: Wissam Ben Yedder (Monaco), Olivier Giroud (Arsenal), Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona), Jonathan Ikoné (Lille), Anthony Martial (Manchester United), Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain)
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