World Cup 2022: France name Raphael Varane in squad despite injury
- Published
France beat Croatia 4-2 in the World Cup final in Russia in 2018
Manchester United's Raphael Varane has been included in defending champions France's World Cup squad even though he is still recovering from injury.
Centre-back Varane, 29, left the pitch in tears after suffering a leg injury in United's 1-1 draw at Chelsea on 22 October.
Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris will play in his fourth World Cup.
Paris St-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe, who scored in the 2018 final, has also been named.
Defenders William Saliba and Ibrahima Konate, of Arsenal and Liverpool respectively, have also earned call-ups to Didier Deschamps' squad.
Deschamps initially only named 25 players despite being able to pick 26, but he added Borussia Monchengladbach striker Marcus Thuram - son of 1998 World Cup winner Lilian Thuram - on Monday.
Real Madrid's Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema withdrew from the squad on the eve of the tournament because of a thigh injury suffered in training. Deschamps told French television network TF1 on Sunday that he would not be naming a replacement for the 34-year-old.
Christopher Nkunku, also named in the initial squad, was ruled out after limping out of training, with Randal Kolo Muani called up as a replacement.
PSG defender Presnel Kimpembe also withdrew from the squad having not recovered enough from an injury. Monaco's Axel Disasi was called up as his replacement.
France begin their title defence on 22 November against Australia in Group D, which also includes Denmark and Tunisia.
Paul Pogba is not involved after suffering a knee injury in July, having not played for Serie A side Juventus since rejoining from Manchester United this summer.
N'Golo Kante was ruled out with a hamstring injury, while Manchester United striker Antony Martial, who has a back injury, also misses out.
France
Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola (West Ham), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Steve Mandanda (Rennes)
Defenders: Axel Disasi (Monaco)*, Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich), Raphael Varane (Manchester United)
Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Youssouf Fofana (Monaco), Matteo Guendouzi (Marseille), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid), Jordan Veretout (Marseille)
Forwards: Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona), Olivier Giroud (AC Milan), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Randal Kolo Muani (Eintracht Frankfurt)*, Kylian Mbappe (Paris St-Germain), Marcus Thuram (Borussia Monchengladbach)
*Axel Disasi replaced Presnel Kimpembe (Paris St-Germain)
*Kolo Muani replaced Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig)