Didier Deschamps has explained why there was no place for Alexandre Lacazette in his France squad and urged the forward to ‘continue’ his good work at Arsenal.
Lacazette, 27, who was also left out of France’s World Cup winning squad in the summer, has had an impressive start to this season, scoring five goals in all competitions for the Gunners.
The striker will have been hoping for a recall ahead of France’s clashes with Iceland and Germany in the Uefa Nations League but Deschamps instead selected Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud, Ousmane Dembele and Florian Thauvin.
While France have an embarrassment of riches in attack, Deschamps defended his decision to stick with the same forwards he took to Russia.
‘It is true that he is having a good early season where he is efficient and effective,’ he replied when asked about Lacazette’s omission.
‘There is competition in this position and for the moment the players I selected for the World Cup, I continue to rely on them. Read more