Sought-after midfielder Rayan Cherki was today handed a maiden call-up to the France squad for the Nations League finals.
Les Bleus take on Spain on June 5 in Stuttgart in the semis with the winner advancing to a title game with either Germany or Portugal in Munich three days later.
And Cherki will be involved after a hugely impressive season with Lyon.
Deschamps said: “Why now? Because I decided it. It’s my responsibility.
“Rayan could have been there in March too, given what he is doing with his club where he has been much more decisive.”
📋 LA LISTE POUR LE FINAL 4 ! 🔥
Voici les 25 Bleus convoqués pour le dernier carré de la Ligue des Nations, avec des nouveaux visages, et des retours 😄💙
05/06 : Demi-finale 🆚 Espagne 🇪🇸
08/06 : Finale ou petite finale 🆚 Allemagne 🇩🇪 ou Portugal 🇵🇹#FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/mDHooD8tXL— Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) May 21, 2025
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Cherki set to move on in the summer
Cherki has already stated his intention to leave Lyon at the end of the season after 14 years with Les Gones. The 21-year-old has scored 29 goals and contributed 45 assists in 185 games for the club, stats that have attracted the interest of several of Europe’s top clubs.
Cherki’s inclusion was backed by Thierry Henry, who coached him during France’s run to the silver medal at last year’s Paris Olympics.
Henry told Le Parisien: ”I’ve always been honest and frank with him. His problem is that he had never been able to link matches to show the extraordinary player he is. But to continue, he had to do things defensively over the entire duration of a game.
“This season, he did it. I appreciate him. It’s just that at times, you had to be hard, like a father with his son.
“Rayan is super smart, he loves and understands football. There are guys who do things and who can’t explain why. And then there is Rayan, who can explain everything. He knows everything.”
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Saliba misses out
There was no place for William Saliba, who damaged a hamstring playing for Arsenal at the weekend, while Bayern Munich centre-back Dayot Upamecano, Barcelona right-back Jules Koundé and Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga are also sidelined.
The France squad is: Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Lucas Chevalier (Lille), Brice Samba (Rennes); Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool), Benjamin Pavard (Inter Milan), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Lucas Hernandez (PSG), Loic Badé (Sevilla), Malo Gusto (Chelsea), Pierre Kalulu (Juventus), Clément Lenglet (Atlético Madrid), Lucas Digne (Aston Villa); Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid), Mattéo Guendouzi (Lazio), Manu Koné (Roma), Adrien Rabiot (Marseille), Warren Zaïre-Emery (PSG); Désiré Doué (PSG), Bradley Barcola (PSG), Ousmane Dembélé (PSG), Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid), Randal Kolo Muani (Juventus), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan), Rayan Cherki (Lyon)
