France World Cup Squad Revealed: Camavinga Makes the Cut

Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga has secured his place in France’s final squad for the upcoming World Cup, ending weeks of speculation about his international future. Head coach Didier Deschamps announced the 26-man roster on Wednesday, springing a few surprises and notable omissions.

According to French radio station Monte Carlo, Camavinga’s inclusion came despite earlier reports suggesting he could be dropped. Those rumors were fueled by a dip in form this season with the Spanish giants, as well as losing his starting spot with Les Bleus during the last international break.

The French program Téléfoot had indicated days ago that the coaching staff was not fully convinced by Camavinga’s recent performances. Criticism centered on his declining attacking impact, defensive inconsistency, and a difficult season that included a red card against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Despite these setbacks, the young midfielder retained his place in the final selection. This is partly attributed to the expanded 26-player squad for the tournament, combined with Deschamps’ belief in Camavinga’s abilities and confidence that he can rediscover his form during the competition.

Squad Breakdown

In goal, the squad includes Mike Maignan, Robin Risser, and Brice Samba.

The defensive line features Lucas Digne, Malo Gusto, Lucas Hernandez, Theo Hernandez, Ibrahima Konaté, Jules Koundé, William Saliba, and Dayot Upamecano.

In midfield, alongside Camavinga, Deschamps selected N’Golo Kanté, Manu Koné, Adrien Rabiot, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Warren Zaïre-Emery.

For the attack, the coach called up Maghnes Akliouche, Bradley Barcola, Rayan Cherki, Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, Randal Kolo Muani, Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, and Marcus Thuram.

Notable Absentees

Several high-profile names were left out of the final list, including Jean-Philippe Mateta, Eli Junior Kroupi, and Maxence Lacroix. These decisions are expected to spark considerable debate within French media circles.