Giroud left out of France squad, Kamara gets first call up
AC Milan’s Olivier Giroud celebrates at the end of the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Atalanta at the San Siro stadium, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 15, 2022. Milan won 2-0. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
PARIS (AP) — Veteran forward Olivier Giroud was left out of the France squad and uncapped Marseille midfielder Boubacar Kamara summoned on Thursday for Nations League games.
AC Milan striker Giroud, who is on the verge of winning the Italian league, is only three behind Thierry Henry’s national scoring record of 51 goals.
Defending champion France has four games in June. It hosts Denmark on June 3, travels to Croatia on June 6 and Austria on June 10, then returns home to play Croatia on June 13.
France coach Didier Deschamps did not rule out the 35-year-old Giroud being selected for the World Cup this year.
“He’s going for the league title, which is good for him, and he played well for us in March,” Deschamps said.
Deschamps also wants to give more game time to forwards such as Monaco striker Wissam Ben Yedder — who has 24 league goals — and Christopher Nkunku, who netted 20 for Leipzig.
“Christopher was named the best player in Germany (by his fellow professionals) and has impressive statistics,” Deschamps said.
The 22-year-old Kamara is a versatile player and can also play in central defense. He earned his shot after playing well for Marseille, which is third in the French league, and his presence gives Deschamps cover for injured midfielder Paul Pogba.
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France:
Goalkeepers: Alphone Areola (West Ham), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Mike Maignan (AC Milan).
Defenders: Jonathan Clauss (Lens), Lucas Digne (Aston Villa), Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Presnel Kimpembe (Paris Saint-Germain), Jules Kounde (Sevilla), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich), William Saliba (Marseille), Raphael Varane (Manchester United).
Midfielders: Matteo Guendouzi (Marseille), Boubacar Kamara (Marseille), N’Golo Kante (Chelsea), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Aurelien Tchouameni (Monaco).
Forwards: Wissam Ben Yedder (Monaco), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Moussa Diaby (Bayer Leverkusen), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Kylian Mbappe (PSG), Christopher Nkunku (Leipzig).
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