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The Lyon product, Cherki, who enjoyed a sparkling Ligue 1 campaign, stands a chance to earn his maiden cap for France in the Nations League semifinal against Spain.
Rayan Cherki. (X)
France head coach Didier Deschamps handed Lyon star Rayan Cherki a call-up to his squad for the Nations League semi-finals against Spain as the promising 21-year-old stands a chance to earn his maiden cap for the nation. Cherki, who enjoyed a sparkling Ligue 1 campaign, netting 8 times and setting up 11 assists, helped his side to a sixth-place finish in the French top-tier.
“Rayan could have been here in March, given what he has achieved with his club,” French gaffer Deschamps said.
“He has been so decisive in terms of his goals and his assists,” the 56-year-old said.
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Cherki, who was also eligible to play for Algeria and Italy, was a regular in France’s U-21 side and Deschamps also revealed that he would never seek to influence a player’s decisions.
“I’ve never blocked a player or prevented him from making a choice,” said Deschamps.
“When I bring them in, it’s for our needs, not to prevent them from doing something else. I have never tried that on since I became coach,” the World Cup winner said.
France will face Spain in the Nations League semi-final in Stuttgart on June 5, with the final of the event slated for the 8th of June.
However, Deschamps would look for a work-around in his defence with senior names including Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba and Jules Kounde all out of the side due to injury, while midfielder Eduardo Camavinga will also be a miss through a hamstring injury.
PSG’s Lucas Hernandez, Chelsea’s Malo Gusto, Atletico Madrid’s Clement Lenglet and the uncapped duo of Loic Bade and Pierre Kalulu also featured on Deschamps’ latest list.
France Squad:
Goalkeepers: Lucas Chevalier (Lille), Mike Maignan (AC Milan/ITA), Brice Samba (Rennes)
Defenders: Loic Bade (Sevilla/ESP), Malo Gusto (Chelsea/ENG), Lucas Digne (Aston Villa/ENG), Lucas Hernandez (Paris Saint-Germain), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan/ITA), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool/ENG), Benjamin Pavard (Inter Milan/ITA), Clement Lenglet (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Pierre Kalulu (Juventus/ITA)
Midfielders: Matteo Guendouzi (Lazio/ITA), Adrien Rabiot (Marseille), Manu Kone (Roma/ITA), Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid/ESP)
Forwards: Bradley Barcola (Paris Saint-Germain), Randal Kolo Muani (Juventus/ITA), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich/GER), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan/ITA), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid/ESP), Rayan Cherki (Lyon), Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain), Desire Doue (Paris Saint-Germain)
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