Eli Junior Kroupi earns first France call-up after Thuram injury

Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi, aged 20, receives his first call-up to the France squad after Marcus Thuram was ruled out. According to RMC Sport, Zidane has picked Kroupi as a replacement for Thuram, who felt hamstring discomfort in his right leg on Sunday during Inter's Serie A match against Como and will miss the next two matches for Les Bleus in the Nations League.

Announcing the squad on Thursday, Zidane said Kroupi was already on the extended list and could have traveled. He added that Kroupi had been out for two or three months, and although he returned against Leeds on October 31 with an assist in just 30 minutes, it was still a little too early for him. Since then he has played just over 20 minutes against Ipswich in the Premier League.

Kroupi has come through every French youth team, including the Espoirs, with five caps and three goals. Last season he scored 13 Premier League goals. Alongside Pablo Pagis of Paris FC, who is also getting his first call-up, he shows Zidane wants to test new faces in attack. The two played together at Lorient.