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Kylian Mbappe in France squad to face England in June friendly

Kylian Mbappe made his France debut in March
Image: Kylian Mbappe made his France debut in March

Premier League target Kylian Mbappe has been called up to France's squad for the friendly against England in June.

Mbappe became France's second youngest player when he made his debut against Luxembourg in March, but could be tested against English top-flight defenders when Gareth Southgate's side take on Les Bleus at the Stade de France on June 13.

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Ligue 1 winners Monaco have warned they will do "everything they can" to keep hold of 18-year-old Mbappe this summer, who has attracted the interest of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and been linked with a host of Europe's top clubs.

France head coach Didier Deschamps has named a 26-man squad for their three June fixtures, which also sees them take on Paraguay in another friendly and Sweden in a World Cup qualifier, but Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has once again been overlooked for a call-up.

The forward has not featured for his country since October 2015 following his alleged involvement in a blackmail plot against international team-mate Mathieu Valbuena.

Seven Premier League players have been included in France's squad though, with Chelsea's PFA Player of the Year N'Golo Kante joined by team-mate Kurt Zouma.

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba, Tottenham pair Hugo Lloris and Moussa Sissoko and Arsenal duo Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny are all also selected.

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Karim Benzema celebrates a goal during the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao
Image: Karim Benzema is not included in Didier Deschamps' 26-man squad

"All the players will play," Deschamps said in quotes reported by L'Equipe.

Asked about Benzema's ongoing omission, he added: "The team of France was built before Euro (2016), consolidated through the competition, it continued to be in this phase of qualifications.

"I have a band in which there is a balance, a harmony."

Full France squad

Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola (PSG), Benoit Costil (Rennes), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur)

Defenders: Christophe Jallet (Lyon), Djibril Sidibé (AS Monaco), Presnel Kimpembe (PSG), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona), Raphaël Varane (Real Madrid), Kurt Zouma (Chelsea), Lucas Digne (Barcelona), Benjamin Mendy (AS Monaco)

Midfielders: Ngolo Kanté (Chelsea), Blaise Matuidi (PSG), Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham Hotspur), Adrien Rabiot (PSG), Corentin Tolisso (Lyon)

Attackers: Ousmane Dembélé (Borussia Dortmund), Olivier Giroud (Arsenal), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon), Thomas Lemar (AS Monaco), Kylian Mbappé (AS Monaco), Dimitri Payet (Marseille), Florian Thauvin (Marseille)

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