Maxence Lacroix called up by France as William Saliba withdraws, Manu Koné not replaced | OneFootball

Maxence Lacroix has been called into the France squad after William Saliba withdrew with ankle pain, while Manu Koné will not be replaced.

According to L'Équipe, the staff arrived at Clairefontaine on Sunday and will welcome 25 players on Monday for the United States tour. Didier Deschamps had named 26 on Thursday, but Koné sustained a thigh injury that evening and will not be replaced.

Set up in a 4-2-3-1, France have ample options for the double pivot, including Eduardo Camavinga, N'Golo Kanté, Adrien Rabiot, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Warren Zaïre-Emery.

Centre-back remains well stocked, yet Saliba was ruled out on Sunday. The Arsenal defender played the full League Cup final against Manchester City, a 0-2 defeat, but he has recurrent issues in both ankles, especially the left, and the pain was too strong on Sunday evening.

With Tuesday’s flight to Boston too close to arrange scans, Deschamps moved to call a replacement in Lacroix. The 25-year-old has been at Crystal Palace since 2024 after four Bundesliga seasons with Wolfsburg.

A Sochaux academy graduate, he is an undisputed starter in the Premier League and said in November he watched Deschamps’ announcements live in hope of a call-up.

He is due at Clairefontaine on Monday at midday for a light programme, featuring a photo session, treatment for those who need it and an evening off, with a return before midnight.

Mindful of fatigue, the staff cancelled the scheduled late-afternoon training to give players breathing space before flying to the United States, where they face Brazil on Thursday and Colombia on Sunday.

Source: L'Équipe