France coach Didier Deschamps has released his squad ahead of their next UEFA Nations League games with six new players apart from the team that won the world cup in Russia called up. Crystal Palace defender Mamadou Sakho has been recalled by France and is in line to make his first appearance for the World Cup winners in nearly three years.
The World Cup winning coach was criticised for sticking with his World Cup-winning squad for Nations League games last month, and he said adding Sakho, in part because of injuries to other players, was a "logical" choice.
"I try to balance the squad," he said. "The 23 [at the World Cup] had a low average age, now it's 25-and-a-half. At centre-back, I already have some young players, and it's good to have some experience."
Sakho, 28, picked up the most recent of his 28 caps in March 2016, but missed out on that year's European Championship because of a doping offence, of which he was later cleared, while a falling-out with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp disrupted his 2016-17 season.
"Mamadou has been with us, he's experienced international football, and it was time to see him again with us," Deschamps said. "I could have made other choices, but it was important to see him again with us."
Lyon midfielder Tanguy Ndombele, the only uncapped player in the 23-man squad, has been picked to replace the injured Corentin Tolisso.
Sakho and Everton's Kurt Zouma, on loan from Chelsea, will step in for Samuel Umtiti and Adil Rami, while Deschamps has turned to Everton's Lucas Digne with Manchester City's Benjamin Mendy also injured.
Goalkeepers Hugo Lloris and Steve Mandanda will return to the squad after missing last month's games through injury, and Lloris will play for France for the first time since his conviction for drunk driving last month.
"He's been through some difficult moments," Deschamps said. "The injury didn't help, but the media frenzy that followed what happened went a long way.
"He's got character, personality, I know what he can do, the captain's role he can play. ... His off-the-pitch matter is behind him. He's fit, he feels good in his body and mind, and it'll do him good to get back with the squad."
The squad also includes Paul Pogba, whose start to the season with Manchester United has brought mixed fortunes amid disputes with manager Jose Mourinho.
"I'm not worried, and I'm not Jose Mourinho. I'm not going to get involved in their relationship," Deschamps said. "Everything is clear with Paul. He knows why he comes, what I expect of him.
"You have to remember that it doesn't only depend on them. You can't just pick individual performance out of a team performance.
"Clubs can get bad results, have difficult times. What they do with their club is important, but it's a different environment here with the France team."
France squad:
Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola (Paris Saint-Germain), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Steve Mandanda (Marseille)
Defenders: Lucas Digne (Everton), Lucas Hernandez (Atletico Madrid), Presnel Kimpembe (Paris Saint-Germain), Benjamin Pavard (Stuttgart), Mamadou Sakho (Crystal Palace), Djibril Sidibe (Monaco), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid), Kurt Zouma (Everton)
Midfielders: N'Golo Kante (Chelsea), Blaise Matuidi (Juventus), Tanguy Ndombele (Lyon), Steven Nzonzi (Roma), Paul Pogba (Manchester United)
Forwards: Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona), Nabil Fekir (Lyon), Olivier Giroud (Chelsea), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Thomas Lemar (Atletico Madrid), Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain), Florian Thauvin (Marseille)

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