Mateta handed France call-up for World Cup qualifiers

Jean-Philippe Mateta was rewarded for his fantabulous signifier with Crystal Palace by being called up to the France squad named Thursday for World Cup qualifying matches against Azerbaijan and Iceland this month.

The 28-year-old has 4 goals successful 10 games successful each competitions this play for a Palace broadside who are unbeaten truthful acold successful the Premier League and prevarication 3rd successful the table.

Mateta scored 17 goals successful each competitions past play for the southbound London nine and has netted 32 times successful the Premier League since the commencement of the 2023/24 campaign.

He represented France astatine Under-21 level and past starred for Thierry Henry’s broadside astatine the 2024 Paris Olympics, scoring 5 goals successful six matches arsenic they took the metallic medal — but helium has ne'er been called up by manager Didier Deschamps to the elder squad until now.

“I similar his profile,” Deschamps said erstwhile asked astir Mateta.

“He is not truthful young but helium played for astir each of the antithetic teams astatine younker level. He has the quality to people goals.”

Mateta benefits, on with recalled AC Milan guardant Christopher Nkunku, from the absences owed to wounded of Ballon d’Or victor Ousmane Dembele and his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Desire Doue.

Marcus Thuram of Inter Milan, who has conscionable 2 goals from 31 planetary appearances and nary successful astir 2 years, is besides retired injured.

Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki, who made his France debut successful June, is missing excessively having been sidelined successful caller weeks.

Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike and Maghnes Akliouche of Monaco support their places aft being fixed debuts past month.

In midfield, the lack owed to suspension of Aurelien Tchouameni has cleared the mode for the instrumentality of his Real Madrid workfellow Eduardo Camavinga, who has not played for France since March.

Les Bleus, World Cup winners successful 2018 and runners-up successful 2022, are apical of Group D with six points aft winning their archetypal 2 qualifying matches past period against Ukraine and Iceland.

Wins astatine location to Azerbaijan successful Paris connected Friday, October 10, and distant successful Iceland 3 days aboriginal could beryllium capable for France to clinch apical spot and qualification for the World Cup with 2 games to spare — provided results elsewhere spell their way.

France squad

Goalkeepers: Lucas Chevalier (Paris Saint-Germain), Mike Maignan (AC Milan/ITA), Brice Samba (Rennes)

Defenders: Lucas Digne (Aston Villa/ENG), Malo Gusto (Chelsea/ENG), Lucas Hernandez (Paris Saint-Germain), Theo Hernandez (Al Hilal/KSA), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool/ENG), Jules Kounde (Barcelona/ESP), William Saliba (Arsenal/ENG), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich/GER)

Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid/ESP), Manu Kone (Roma/ITA), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich/GER), Adrien Rabiot (AC Milan/ITA), Khephren Thuram (Juventus/ITA)

Forwards: Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco), Bradley Barcola (Paris Saint-Germain), Kingsley Coman (Al-Nassr/KSA), Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool/ENG), Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace/ENG), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid/ESP), Christopher Nkunku (AC Milan/ITA)

The station Mateta handed France call-up for World Cup qualifiers appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.