France will face Italy on Tuesday with a depleted squad after injuries forced Aurélien Tchouaméni and Khéphren Thuram to withdraw. This away fixture, scheduled for Saturday 12 November, comes as the team is on a recent run of two wins and a draw from its last three matches.
Tchouaméni, the Real Madrid midfielder, is struggling with a thigh muscle issue. The medical staff deemed him unavailable to avoid any risk of aggravating the problem. Thuram, the OGC Nice midfielder, is dealing with an ankle injury. Neither will be fit in time for the trip to Milan.
These setbacks come as Les Bleus enter a decisive phase. The previous match was a 1-1 draw with Italy on Friday 2 October, with Olise on the scoresheet. Kylian Mbappé, the team's top scorer this season with ten goals, remains the offensive spearhead. The upcoming qualifying schedule is packed after this international break.
The manager must now reshuffle his midfield. The loss of Tchouaméni, a regular starter, is a significant blow. Eduardo Camavinga and Youssouf Fofana are the leading candidates to slot into the defensive midfield role. Without Thuram, players like Mattéo Guendouzi or Jordan Veretout could see increased minutes.
“It's obviously a blow for the group, but we have the necessary depth to handle it,” a member of the technical staff said. The team completed its final training session at Clairefontaine before flying to Italy on Monday afternoon.
The sporting context remains positive despite these concerns. The 4-1 victory over Belgium, which featured a Michael Olise brace and goals from Désiré Doue and Rayan Cherki, confirmed the team's good momentum. The starting lineup against Italy on Saturday 12 November is expected to blend experience and youth, with the aim of holding onto top spot in the group. France's last match was a 1-1 draw with these same Italian opponents in October, a match in which Olise was again the scorer. Tuesday's fixture will be played at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.
Background and full detail: ESPN Soccer
