France called up veteran winger Florian Thauvin on Monday to replace the injured Bradley Barcola for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Barcola was ruled out with a right hamstring injury after consulting team doctor Franck Le Gall, the French football federation said. Barcola is one of several Paris Saint-Germain players who have been injured this season.
The 32-year-old Thauvin has made a bright start to the campaign with new club Lens. He was a squad player for the France team that won the 2018 World Cup and made the last of his 10 appearances for Les Bleus the following year.
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Group D leader France hosts Azerbaijan on Friday at Parc des Princes in Paris and travels to play Iceland in Reykjavik on Monday.
France coach Didier Deschamps is awaiting a further update from his medical staff on Kylian Mbappé’s right ankle injury. after he limped off playing for Real Madrid on Saturday.
Published on Oct 06, 2025
