Former Chelsea star makes France’s Euro 2024 team

Ahead of their opening game for Euro 2024 in Germany against Austria in Stuttgart on June 17, France has recalled former Chelsea midfielder and Saudi Arabia-based N’Golo Kante. 

Les Blue released their squad list for Euro 2024 on Thursday evening with manager Didier Deschamps calling up the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner among the 25 players.

In a mixture of youth and experience, France called up 33-year-old N’Golo Kante, who currently plays for Saudi-based side Al Ittihad. The last time the former Leicester City player played for the national team was in July 2022, and his absence has been majorly due to injury struggles towards the end of his time at Chelsea and the start of his career in Asia.

Didier Deschamps highlighted the fact that Kante has played a full season in Saudi Arabia as one of the major reasons he has made it into the team. He also mentioned that his experience will be crucial to whatever success they record at the competition.

Usual regulars like Kylian Mbappe, Olivier Giroud, William Saliba, and Antoine Griezmann all make the list. Paris St-Germain youngsters Warren Zaire-Emery, 18, and Bradley Barcola, 21 also made the cut.

The rest of the list is dominated by PSG and Real Madrid stars.

France’s Euro 2024 squad:

Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola (West Ham), Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Brice Samba (Lens)

Defenders: Jonathan Clauss (Marseille), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), William Saliba (Arsenal), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)

Midfielders: N’Golo Kante (Al-Ittihad), Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid), Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris St-Germain), Youssouf Fofana (Monaco)

Forwards: Kylian Mbappe (Paris St-Germain), Bradley Barcola (Paris St-Germain), Ousmane Dembele (Paris St-Germain), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan), Randal Kolo Muani (Paris St-Germain), Olivier Giroud (AC Milan).