France name men’s football squad for Paris Olympics: Olise, Mateta and Lacazette included

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France have named their 18-player men’s football squad for the 2024 Olympics, alongside four replacement players.

Michael Olise, who joined Bayern Munich from Crystal Palace this month, is included in Thierry Henry’s squad alongside his former Selhurst Park team-mate Jean-Philippe Mateta.

Former Arsenal captain Alexandre Lacazette will captain the squad, where he will be join by fellow Lyon forward Rayan Cherki.

Rennes are the most represented club in the squad with defender Adrien Truffert joined by 19-year-old midfielder Desire Doue and forward Arnaud Kalimuendo.

RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba, Loic Balde of Sevilla and Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Manu Kone are other notable names in Henry’s squad.

Of the four replacement players in the squad, Chelsea midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu is joined by three France-based players; Theo De Percin of Auxerre, Lens’ Andy Diouf and Chrislain Matsima of Monaco.

 

Paris Saint-Germain pair Warren Zaire-Emery and Bradley Barcola are among those who have dropped out from the 25-player provisional squad named by Henry at the start of June.

Lille defender Leny Yoro, who has been the subject of interest from a selection of top European clubs this summer and is expected to join Real Madrid this summer or next, has also been cut from the provisional squad.

It had already been confirmed that Kylian Mbappe would not be part of France’s Olympic squad, despite previously expressing his desire to compete at the Games.

Teams participating in the men’s football tournament at the Olympics consist of under-23 sides, with up to three overage players permitted. Mateta, 26, Lacazette, 33, and Sevilla defender Loic Bade, 24, are the three overage players included for France.

France will start their group stage campaign against the United States on July 24 before playing Guinea three days later and concluding their group against New Zealand on July 30.

France’s Olympic squad

Goalkeepers: Obed Nkambadio (Paris FC), Guillaume Restes (Toulouse)

Defenders: Loic Bade (Sevilla), Bradley Locko (Brest), Castello Lukeba (RB Leipzig), Soungoutou Magassa (Monaco), Kiliann Sildillia (Freiburg), Adrien Truffert (Rennes)

Midfielders: Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco), Joris Chotard (Montpellier), Desire Doue (Rennes), Manu Kone (Borussia Monchengladbach), Enzo Millot (Stuttgart)

Forwards: Rayan Cherki (Lyon), Arnaud Kalimuendo (Rennes), Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon), Jean-Philippe Mattea (Crystal Palace), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)

Reserves: Theo De Percin (Auxerre), Andy Diouf (Lens), Chrislain Matsima (Monaco), Lesley Ugochukwu (Chelsea)

(Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)



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