Gérald Baticle names 29-man France U21 squad for Euro preparation camp
The squad will gather at Clairefontaine on Monday 26 May before travelling to Slovakia, with a final 23-player list to be submitted on 4 June – the same day France take on Uzbekistan in a final warm-up match in Orléans (18:45 CET).
AS Monaco playmaker Maghnes Akliouche (22) is the most high-profile absentee. The Ligue 1 McDonald's side have opted to retain the France U21 regular, citing player fatigue after a long season and his involvement at the 2024 Olympics. Clubs are not obliged to release players for the U21 Euros, as the tournament falls outside official FIFA dates.
Among the 29 selected, first-time call-ups include Saïmon Bouabré (Monaco), Mathys Detourbet (Troyes), Noah Edjouma (Toulouse) and Tidiam Gomis (RB Leipzig) – all of whom could be released to Bernard Diomède’s U20s for the Toulon Tournament, which begins 3 June.
France begin their Euro campaign on Wednesday 11 June against Portugal in Trencin, before facing Georgia (14 June) and Poland (17 June) in Zilina. Les Bleuets come into the competition off the back of an encouraging March international break, having beaten reigning champions England (5-3) and hosts Slovakia (0-4).
Full France U21 pre-Euro Squad
Goalkeepers
Guillaume Restes (Toulouse), Obed Nkambadio (Paris FC), Robin Risser (Strasbourg)
Defenders
Ismaël Doukouré (Strasbourg), Jérémy Jacquet (Rennes), Castello Lukeba (RB Leipzig), Chrislain Matsima (Augsbourg), Christian Mawissa (Monaco), Quentin Merlin (Marseille), Kiliann Sildillia (Fribourg), Nathan Zézé (Nantes)
Midfielders
Lucien Agoumé (Séville), Ayyoub Bouaddi (Lille), Andy Diouf (Lens), Johann Lepenant (Nantes), Enzo Millot (Stuttgart), Dilane Bakwa (Strasbourg), Saïmon Bouabré (Monaco), Mathys Detourbet (Troyes)
Forwards:
Thierno Barry (Villarreal), Hugo Ekitike (Eintracht Frankfurt), Arnaud Kalimuendo (Rennes), Mathys Tel (Tottenham), Wilson Odobert (Tottenham), Jean-Mattéo Bahoya (Eintracht Frankfurt), Noah Edjouma (Toulouse), Tidiam Gomis (RB Leipzig), Éli Junior Kroupi (Lorient), Loum Tchaouna (Lazio)
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