Budding star Camavinga named to France’s World Cup squad

Paris, Nov 9 (EFE).- Real Madrid standout Eduardo Camavinga is part of the 25-man roster France national coach Didier Deschamps announced here Wednesday for World Cup 2022 in Qatar.

The midfielder, who turns 20 on Thursday, is one of several youngsters tapped by Deschamps to defend the title Les Bleus won four years ago in Russia.

Camavinga is joined on the roster by Real Madrid teammate Aurelien Tchouameni, 22; Arsenal defender William Saliba, 21; and AS Monaco’s Youssouf Fofana, 23.

FC Barcelona defender Jules Kounde was named to the roster three days before his 24th birthday.

“It’s a big, big honor. A childhood dream,” was Camavinga’s response to learning that he had been selected to compete in Qatar.

Deschamps hailed Tchouameni as “part of this young generation who have so much talent and quality” and praised him for becoming an important player “a mythic club like Real Madrid.”

The squad includes habitual starters such as Karim Benzema, Kylian Mbappe – the breakout star of the 2018 World Cup – and Antoine Griezmann, as well as 36-year-old striker Olivier Giroud, who needs just three goals to overtake Thierry Henry as France’s all-time leading scorer.

Also returning is World cup-winning goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

But two other members of the 2018 squad, N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba, are unavailable due to injury.

“To be totally honest, this has not been the easiest selection. It is the same for all the other national team managers. Players recovering from injury, players who got injured last night, who could get injured tonight,” Deschamps said.

France will begin their World Cup defense on Nov. 22 against Australia.

Roster Goalkeepers: Alphone Areola (West Ham United), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Steve Mandanda (Rennes)

Defenders: Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Presnel Kimpembe (Paris Saint-Germain), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern), Raphael Varane (Manchester United)

Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Youssouf Fofana (AS Monaco), Matteo Guendouzi (Marseille), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid), Jordan Veretout (Marseille)

Forwards: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Kingsley Coman (Bayern), Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona), Olivier Giroud (AC Milan), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Kylian Mbappe (PSG), Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig). EFE

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