The China Mail - Mbappe, Dembele head up France squad for 2026 World Cup

Deschamps, who guided France to World Cup glory in 2018 and will leave his role after the 2026 edition, included few surprises.

Mbappe will likely captain the team despite a thigh injury sustained last month, which caused him to miss key matches in Real Madrid's La Liga run-in.

However, the 27-year-old will be on the plane to North America as part of a glittering French forward line, also featuring Ballon d'Or holder Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue of Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise.

Rayan Cherki will make his World Cup debut.

The 22-year-old playmaker has enjoyed a sparkling debut season at Manchester City, while his Premier League rival William Saliba of Arsenal will provide defensive solidity for Les Bleus.

Full-back Lucas Hernandez and midfield dynamo N'Golo Kante are, alongside Mbappe and Dembele, the only survivors from Deschamps' World Cup-winning squad from eight years ago in Russia.

Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser is the only uncapped player in the squad.

"It's a squad. Not necessarily the 26 best players. It's about balance and how the team comes together," Deschamps told French TV channel TF1.

Notable absentees are Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga and PSG 'keeper Lucas Chevalier, who has become second choice at the Parc des Princes since his high-profile transfer from Lille last summer.

"I can imagine how disappointed he (Camavinga) must be," Deschamps said. "He's coming off a tough season where he didn't play as much and suffered injuries. (But) I've got decisions to make and a squad to put together."

Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike will also not be a part of the squad after suffering a season-ending Achilles injury in April.

"It's been part of my life for 14 years running. But if people are worried, I'm not retiring. I'll have a life of my own. The World Cup is the most important thing," Deschamps said of announcing his seventh and final France squad for a major international tournament.

France will start their Group I campaign against Senegal on June 16, before playing Iraq and Norway.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan (AC Milan/ITA), Robin Risser (Lens), 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), Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace/ENG), Jules Kounde (Barcelona/ESP), William Saliba (Arsenal/ENG), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich/GER)

Midfielders: N'Golo Kante (Fenerbahce/TUR), Manu Kone (Roma/ITA), Adrien Rabiot (AC Milan/ITA), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid/ESP), Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain)

Forwards: Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco), Bradley Barcola (Paris Saint-Germain), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City/ENG), Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain), Desire Doue (Paris Saint-Germain), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich/GER), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid/ESP), Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace/ENG), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan/ITA)

O.Tse--ThChM