France calls up Florian Thauvin to replace injured Bradley Barcola for World Cup qualifiers

By Canadian Press on October 6, 2025.

PARIS (AP) — France called up veteran winger Florian Thauvin on Monday to replace the injured Bradley Barcola for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Barcola was ruled out with a right hamstring injury after consulting team doctor Franck Le Gall, the French soccer federation said. Barcola is one of several Paris Saint-Germain players who have been injured this season.

The 32-year-old Thauvin has made a bright start to the campaign with new club Lens. He was a squad player for the France team that won the 2018 World Cup and made the last of his 10 appearances for Les Bleus the following year.

Group D leader France hosts Azerbaijan on Friday at Parc des Princes in Paris and travels to play Iceland in Reykjavik on Monday.

France coach Didier Deschamps is awaiting a further update from his medical staff on Kylian Mbappé’s right ankle injury. after he limped off playing for Real Madrid on Saturday.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

The Associated Press

11
-10