Football Italia·Italy·Friday, September 18, 2026 at 04:27 PM

France give first calls to Diouf and Da Cunha, but cut Thuram for Italy match

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Susy Campanale

Former soccer player Zinedine Zidane arrives for the Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris, France, 17 October 2022. For the first time the Ballon d'Or, presented by the magazine France Football, will be awarded to the best players of the 2021-22 season instead of the calendar year. EPA-EFE/Mohammed Badra

Zinedine Zidane has pulled a few surprises with his first France squad, where he’ll also face Italy in the Nations League, calling Inter’s Andy Diouf and Como midfielder Lucas Da Cunha, but not Marcus Thuram.

Les Bleus are in Nations League Group A and will make their debut against Vincenzo Montella’s Turkiye on September 25, then visit Belgium on September 28.

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They host Italy in Paris on October 2, then Belgium on October 5.

PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 26: Former French football player Zinedine Zidane arrives on stage during the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Loic Venance - Pool/Getty Images) — PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 26: Former French football player Zinedine Zidane arrives on stage during the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Loic Venance – Pool/Getty Images)

It is the first squad called by new coach Zidane, who took over from Didier Deschamps following the 2026 World Cup fourth place finish.

He has given debut calls to Inter winger Diouf and Como midfielder Da Cunha, along with Rennes forward Esteban Lepaul.

MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 08: Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid is challenged by Andy Diouf of Internazionale during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid C.F. and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 08, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images) — MADRID, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 08: Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid is challenged by Andy Diouf of Internazionale during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid C.F. and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 08, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

However, big names were cut, including Inter striker Marcus Thuram, ex-Milan full-back Theo Hernandez, and Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchaouameni.

COMO, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 10: Lucas Da Cunha of Como 1907 reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Como 1907 and RB Leipzig at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on September 10, 2026 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images) — COMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 10: Lucas Da Cunha of Como 1907 reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Como 1907 and RB Leipzig at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on September 10, 2026 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

He does have room for Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan and midfielder Adrien Rabiot, along with Roma’s breakout star of the World Cup with France, Manu Koné, and Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu.

TURIN, ITALY - AUGUST 23: Adrien Rabiot of AC Milan celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Serie A match between Torino FC and AC Milan at Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino on August 23, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images) — TURIN, ITALY – AUGUST 23: Adrien Rabiot of AC Milan celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Serie A match between Torino FC and AC Milan at Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino on August 23, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

France squad for Nations League

Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan (Milan), Guillaume Restes (Toulouse), Robin Risser (Lens),

Defenders: Andy Diouf (Inter Milan), Jérémy Jacquet (Liverpool), Pierre Kalulu (Juventus), Ibrahima Konaté (Real Madrid), Jules Koundé (Barcelona), Malo Gusto (Chelsea), Maxence Lacroix (Chelsea), Adrien Truffert (Bournemouth), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)

Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), Lucas Da Cunha (Como), Manu Koné (Roma), Adrien Rabiot (Milan), Warren Zaïre-Emery (PSG)

Forwards: Bradley Barcola (Liverpool), Ousmane Dembélé (PSG), Désiré Doué (PSG), Estéban Lepaul (Rennes), Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich).

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