France add two new players to World Cup squad

The reigning world champions have added two more players to their ranks after Presnel Kimpembe’s withdrawal.

France manager Didier Deschamps has called up Axel Disasi and Marcus Thuram to the national team’s World Cup squad.

Disasi, who is uncapped at senior international level, will replace Presnel Kimpembe in Qatar. The 24-year-old AS Monaco defender has made 23 appearances across all competitions this season, managing three goals and four assists.

Still not fully recovered from injury, Presnel Kimpembe won't participate at the World Cup. 𝗔𝘅𝗲𝗹 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘀𝗶 has been called up to replace him!#FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/1lLArvXD6h

— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) November 14, 2022

Kimpembe, who played the final 15 minutes of Paris Saint-Germain’s 5-0 win over Auxerre in Ligue 1 last weekend, doesn’t feel properly recovered from an injury problem he’d recently suffered.

As for Thuram, the 25-year-old forward has provided 13 goals and four assists in 17 appearances for Borussia Monchengladbach this season.

The son of 1998 French World Cup winner, Lilian Thuram, joins the 26-man France squad that aims to become only the third team to win back-to-back World Cups.

Les Bleus get their title defense underway on November 22 in a Group D opener against Australia in Qatar.