France adjusts World Cup roster

Kimpembe played only 70 minutes, after suffering a hamstring injury in mid-September and was sidelined for six weeks. The 27-year-old central defender just returned when he played the last 15 minutes of the 5-0 victory over Auxerre in the 15th round of Ligue 1 on November 13. However, Kimpembe was not in the best shape and withdrew for fear of affecting the French team.

The decision to remove Kimpembe's name was made on the afternoon of November 14 after a face-to-face meeting between the defender and coach Deschamps and France's chief medical officer Franck Le Gall on the morning of the same day.

Kimpembe, with 28 caps for the national team, matured after participating in the 2018 World Cup winning generation, despite only playing one match - a 0-0 draw with Denmark - in the final round of the group stage. He is one of the favorite options of coach Deschamps for two central defenders, alongside Ibrahim Konate, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano.

Axel Disasi - the player chosen to replace Kimpembe - has not played a minute for France and will attend the World Cup for the first time. The 24-year-old defender's international experience is encapsulated in three appearances for France U20 between 2017 and 2018. This season, Disasi scored three and assisted four goals in 23 matches in all competitions for AS Monaco. He was valued at $26 million by the Transfermarkt transfer site.

Also on November 14, Deschamps called to add Marcus Thuram - the son of former teammate Lilian Thuram - to the list for the 2022 World Cup. Before that, the 54-year-old coach only filled in the names of 25 players according to the list published on 9. /11, which is one person less than the FIFA maximum limit.

According to Deschamps, leaving a position empty is to review the condition of the players after the series of matches over the weekend. He also confirmed that the summoning of Thuram was not related to the injury condition of Karim Benzema or any other player.

This season, Thuram has scored 13 goals in 17 games for Monchengladbach in all competitions since the start of the season, including 10 in the Bundesliga and three in the German Cup. The 24-year-old has yet to score in four caps for France.

Thuram is the eighth striker called up by Deschamps for the 2022 World Cup, after Benzema, Kingsley Coman, Ousmane Dembele, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe and Christopher Nkunku.

Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola, Hugo Lloris, Steve Mandanda.

- Hậu vệ: Lucas Hernandez, Theo Hernandez, Ibrahima Konate, Jules Kounde, Benjamin Pavard, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, Raphael Varane, Axel Disasi.

- Tiền vệ: Eduardo Camavinga, Youssouf Fofana, Matteo Guendouzi, Adrien Rabiot, Aurelien Tchouameni, Jordan Veretout.

- Midfield: Karim Benzema, Kingsley Coman, Ousmane Dembele, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe, Christopher Nkunku, Marcus Thuram.