Saint Etienne centre back Kurt Zouma and Les Verts’ goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier have been called up to Didier Deschamps’ French national squad for their friendly against Australia on Saturday in Paris as well as their World Cup qualifier vs Finland.SC Bastia’s goalkeeper Mickael Landreau has been forced out of the squad with a muscular problem in his right leg. Hence why Stephane Ruffier, who has played only once for France before, is given a late call up by manager Didier Deschamps.
Another Saint Etienne player Kurt Zouma has been called up to train with national team as well. This is his first ever call up to the national team at senior level. According to the FFF’s official website, the 18 year old centre back has been called up ‘to cover any eventualities’.
Get French Football News understands that both Monaco’s captain Eric Abidal and Arsenal’s defender Laurent Koscielny are carrying slight knocks.
The full squad list for France’s matches vs Australia and Finland:
Goalkeepers: Stephane Ruffier (St Etienne), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Steve Mandanda (Marseille)
Defenders: Eric Abidal (Monaco), Gael Clichy (Manchester City), Mathieu Debuchy (Newcastle), Rod Fanni (Marseille), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Mamadou Sakho (Liverpool), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid), Kurt Zouma (St Etienne)
Midfielders: Blaise Matuidi (Paris St Germain), Paul Pogba (Juventus), Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle), Clement Grenier (Lyon), Samir Nasri (Manchester City), Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle)
Strikers: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Olivier Giroud (Arsenal), Dimitri Payet (Marseille), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille), Loic Remy (Newcastle).
