France arrive in Qatar for World Cup title defence
Frankfurt striker Muani replaces Leipzig’s Nkunku in the France squad
World champions France touched down in Qatar yesterday, seeking to become the first team to retain the World Cup since Brazil in 1962. Ten members of the 2018 title-winning squad return, including captain Hugo Lloris, Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann.
But the defending champions, grouped with Australia, Denmark and Tunisia, are without first-choice midfield pair Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante. Ballon d’Or winner 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.
Meanwhile, Eintracht Frankfurt striker Randal Kolo Muani will replace RB Leipzig’s Christopher Nkunku in the France squad, the French federation (FFF) said.
Nkunku was ruled out of the tournament after leaving Tuesday’s training session early with a left knee injury. A video circulating on social media showed Nkunku clash with teammate Eduardo Camavinga.
Kolo Muani, 23, has made 23 appearances for Frankfurt in all competitions this season, scoring eight goals and recording 11 assists. He made his first two senior appearances for France in September’s Nations League games against Austria and Denmark. “The Eintracht Frankfurt striker, currently in Japan with his club, will join the French team in Doha on Thursday morning,” the FFF said in a statement. France start their campaign against Australia on Nov. 22 at the Al Janoub Stadium.
Meanwhile, France skipper Hugo Lloris has confirmed that he will not join other European national team captains in wearing an anti-discrimination armband during the World Cup in Qatar.
“I have been quite clear about this and I don’t want to add anything else,” Lloris said in an interview. He said he wanted to “show respect” to host nation Qatar. “When we welcome foreign visitors to France we often would like them to respect our rules and our culture. I will do the same when I go to Qatar,” he said.
His comments echoed those made by French Football Federation President Noel Le Graet, who has opposed the initiative. Lloris, who starred in the French team that won the World Cup in Russia four years ago, admitted that he wanted the focus to remain on the football. “This will allow us to avoid having to answer questions on this before and during the competition because there comes a point where you have to keep the focus on the football rather than expend energy on things that are not our responsibility,” he said.
“We are missing two players who have been important for us in recent years but there are young players coming through and if they are in the squad it is because they deserve to be there,” Lloris added.