Thuram gets first France call-up

Marcus Thuram has been called up to France’s senior national team for the time ahead of the coming international fixtures.

National team head coach Didier Deschamps has named Borussia forward Marcus Thuram in his 26-man France squad for the imminent international break. "We’ve been following Marcus’s progress for a long time now. He’s got great potential and an interesting profile, so it was time to give him the call up," said Deschamps. "Marcus can be a great presence in the penalty area, he scores a lot of goals and sets up just as many. He already showed these abilities for Guingamp and now he’s proving himself at a higher level with Borussia Mönchengladbach."

The Équipe Tricolore have a friendly against Finland on Wednesday, 11 November (21:10 CET) in Saint-Denis. The following Saturday, their Nations League campaign continues in Portugal (kick-off 20:45 CET), after which they will return to Saint-Denis for another Nations League clash with Sweden (also at 20:45 CET). Three chances for Thuram to make his France debut. 

Despite his recent form, Alassane Plea is not part of the World Cup winners’ next squad. "Naturally, he would have deserved the call up as well. But unlike Marcus Thuram, Alassane is a central striker, of which we have enough in the squad already," said Deschamps.