Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana has received his first call-up to the France squad from Didier Deschamps

Wesley Fofana was first called up to the France senior squad by Didier Deschamps.

Deschamps named his first squad since the World Cup for Euro 2024 qualifiers this month against the Netherlands and Ireland. He has delivered first calls to Bryce Samba, Khefren Thuram and Fofana.

The France coach has stuck to the same backbone that took his team to the World Cup final in Qatar, keeping the likes of Eduardo Camavinga, Theo Hernandez, Ibrahima Konate and Jules Conde in defence.

With Hugo Lloris retiring from international football in the aftermath of the World Cup, Mike Minnan, who was injured at the World Cup, is expected to succeed him as the country’s first choice.

Lacking midfield options and with players like Paul Pogba lacking minutes and playing time for their club, Deschamps will once again rely on the likes of Adrien Rabiot and Aurelien Chouamini, both of whom were impressive in the winter, to dominate the midfield.

Youssouf Fofana is another mid-park option that Deschamps could call his own, although he made it clear that Camavinga would specifically be considered as a left-back for this particular camp.

“For this window, Camavinga will be considered a left-back,” said Deschamps. It is versatile but it gives me more guarantees in this post.

“He wouldn’t be surprised – we’ve talked about it a few times together.”

If there are concerns about midfield and defensive options, Deschamps has no such concerns to begin with.

Olivier Giroud, the 36-year-old AC Milan striker and record-breaker in the country’s history, is present, as is Kylian Mbappe, who is looking to shake off the disappointment of a premature Champions League exit with Paris Saint-Germain.

Kingsley Coman, whose goal was crucial to charting Bayern Munich’s way away from the French giants, will regain his key role in the team.

Antoine Griezmann, who endured a difficult campaign with Atletico Madrid, could reprise his midfield role, which he performed brilliantly in Qatar.

While Randall Kolo Mwane, who was called up late to the squad for the Winter World Cup but has called himself global acclaim and is the subject of interest from Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain, also received a call-up.

Mwani, as with the rest of the squad, is looking to put the disappointment of December’s agonizing penalty shootout against Argentina behind her.

They will face the Netherlands next Friday, before facing Ireland the following Monday in Dublin.

Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola (West Ham), Mike Mignan (AC Milan), Bryce Samba (Lence)

Defenders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Wesley Fofana (Chelsea), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), Jules Kunde (Barcelona), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich) )

Midfielders: Youssouf Fofana (Monaco), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Aurelien Chouamini (Real Madrid), Jordan Veretout (OM), Khefrin Thuram (Nice).

Attackers: Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Olivier Giroud (Milan), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico), Randall Kolo-Mwani (Frankfurt), Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain), Marcus Thuram (Monchengladbach), Moussa Diaby (Leverkusen).