Varane, Giroud named in France squad for World Cup

PARIS: France coach Didier Deschamps included Raphael Varane in his World Cup squad on Wednesday despite the defender’s injury problems, while 36-year-old striker Olivier Giroud was also called up.

Deschamps selected 25 of a possible 26 players for the tournament where France will attempt to become the first team to defend their World Cup title since Brazil in 1962.

Karim Benzema, who has missed a series of games for Real Madrid this season because of injury, is set for his first World Cup appearance since 2014. Squad: Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris, Steve Mandanda,

Alphonse Areola; Defenders: Lucas Hernandez, Theo Hernandez, Presnel Kimpembe, Ibrahima Konate, Jules Kounde, Benjamin Pavard, William Saliba, Raphael Varane, Dayot Upamecano; Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga, Youssouf Fofana, Matteo Guendouzi, Adrien Rabiot, Aurelien Tchouameni, Jordan Veretout; Forwards: Karim Benzema, Kingsley Coman, Ousmane Dembele, Olivier Giroud, Antoine

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale; Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Coady, Eric Dier, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker, Ben White; Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher, Jordan Henderson, Mason Mount, Kalvin Phillips, Declan Rice; Forwards: Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, James Maddison, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling, Callum Wilson.

Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe, Christopher Nkunku

Injured Lukaku included in Belgium team

TUBIZE, BELGIUM: Romelu Lukaku was selected in the Belgium squad on Thursday despite coach Roberto Martinez admitting the Inter Milan striker was “medically unfit”.

Squad: Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Simon Mignolet, Koen Casteels; Defenders: Toby

Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Kevin Trapp; Defenders: Matthias Ginter, Antonio Ruediger, Niklas Suele, Nico Schlotterbeck, Thilo Kehrer, David Raum, Lukas Klostermann, Armel Bella Kotchap, Christian Guenter; Midfielders: Ilkay Gundogan, Jonas Hofmann, Leon Goretzka, Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sane, Jamal Musiala, Joshua Kimmich, Thomas Mueller, Julian Brandt, Mario Goetze; Forwards: Kai Havertz, Youssoufa Moukoko, Niklas Fuellkrug, Karim Adeyemi.

Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen, Zeno Debast, Leander Dendoncker, Wout Faes, Arthur Theate; Midfielders: Thomas Meunier, Timothy Castagne, Thorgan Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Axel Witsel, Youri Tielemans, Amadou Onana, Hans Vanaken, Yannick Carrasco; Forwards: Eden Hazard,

Leandro Trossard, Romelu Lukaku, Michy Batshuayi, Charles De Ketelaere, Lois Openda, Jeremy Doku, Dries Mertens.