France calls up Florian Thauvin to replace injured Bradley Barcola for World Cup qualifiers
Lens' Florian Thauvin, front, reacts after he failed to score during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Lens at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. Credit: AP/Michel Euler
PARIS — France called up veteran winger Florian Thauvin on Monday to replace the injured Bradley Barcola for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Barcola was ruled out with a right hamstring injury after consulting team doctor Franck Le Gall, the French soccer federation said. Barcola is one of several Paris Saint-Germain players who have been injured this season.
The 32-year-old Thauvin has made a bright start to the campaign with new club Lens. He was a squad player for the France team that won the 2018 World Cup and made the last of his 10 appearances for Les Bleus the following year.
Group D leader France hosts Azerbaijan on Friday at Parc des Princes in Paris and travels to play Iceland in Reykjavik on Monday.
France coach Didier Deschamps is awaiting a further update from his medical staff on Kylian Mbappé’s right ankle injury. after he limped off playing for Real Madrid on Saturday.
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