Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris recalled to France squad for World Cup ties
Thursday 29 September 2016 15:44, UK
Tottenham keeper Hugo Lloris has been recalled to the France squad for the World Cup qualifying double-header against Bulgaria and the Netherlands next month.
Lloris, the national captain, returns to the party for the matches on October 7 and 10 after missing the start of the season through injury.
Elsewhere, Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud is not included as he continues his recovery from a minor toe injury.
Fellow Premier League stars Bacary Sagna of Manchester City and Crystal Palace's Yohan Cabaye, have been recalled after sitting out the opening Group A goalless draw against Belarus on September 6.
Forwards Nabil Fekir and Kingsley Coman are recalled while coach Didier Deschamps has called up Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte to his squad for the first time.
The 22-year-old centre-back had expressed frustration at being left out of the squad against Belarus and there were suggestions he could opt to represent Spain instead.
Laporte, who has represented France at youth and U21 level, is given his chance after injuries to Samuel Umtiti and Adil Rami with Deschamps insisting his decision had nothing to do with the fear of losing him to Spain.
"He is someone that we have been following and his time has come," Deschamps said. "I chose from the players that were available.
"It can happen that there are players injured or unavailable, but at no time would I choose a player for reasons other than what is best for the French team."
France squad: Alphonse Areola (Paris SG), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Steve Mandanda (Crystal Palace), Lucas Digne (Barcelona), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Layvin Kurzawa (Paris SG), Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Bilbao), Jeremy Mathieu (Barcelona), Bacary Sagna (Manchester City), Djibril Sidibe (Monaco), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid), Yohan Cabaye (Crystal Palace), N'Golo Kante (Chelsea), Blaise Matuidi (Paris SG), Dimitri Payet (West Ham), Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Nabil Fekir (Lyon), Kevin Gameiro (Atletico Madrid), Andre-Pierre Gignac (Tigres), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Anthony Martial (Manchester United)
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