Zidane hands Eli Junior Kroupi first France call-up as Marcus Thuram and Aurélien Tchouaméni withdraw injured

Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi has been called up to the senior France squad for the first time after Marcus Thuram and Aurélien Tchouaméni both withdrew with injuries.

Zinedine Zidane turned to the uncapped striker as a replacement for Thuram, who has been ruled out of France's UEFA Nations League fixtures with a hamstring problem.

Thuram picked up the injury on Sunday in Inter's 2-0 Serie A win over Como, a game in which he scored the second goal. Persistent discomfort kept him out of Monday's training session, and he remained under the care of the medical staff.

"With no improvement this morning, and following medical examinations, the French national team's medical staff decided, in agreement with Inter and the player, to release him back to his club," France said in a statement on Tuesday.

Tchouaméni is also heading home. The Real Madrid midfielder aggravated his right adductor in training, the same injury he suffered at the World Cup in the summer, and will return to Madrid for rehabilitation. Zidane will not call up a replacement for him.

Kroupi finished as Ligue 2's top scorer in 2025 and was part of the France Under-19 side that reached the final of the 2024 European Championship, finishing as runners-up.

The 20-year-old has rejected past advances from Portugal, given his desire to represent France at senior level. He's also eligible to represent Ivory Coast.

Kroupi's call-up follows a disrupted start to the campaign. The forward injured his foot during Bournemouth's preseason training camp and needed surgery, only returning to action for the club last month.

However, his performances last season have impressed the French set-up. Kroupi scored 13 league goals during his debut Premier League season, a record for a teenager in their first season in the division.

Thuram and Tchouaméni are the latest names on a lengthy list of absentees. Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu has already been ruled out with a left hamstring injury, with uncapped right-back Saël Kumbedi drafted in to replace him.

France are also without:

William Saliba

Jules Koundé

Maxence Lacroix

Manu Koné

Ousmane Dembélé

Esteban Lepaul

Despite the absences, France lead their Nations League group with 10 points from four games. Zidane's side travel to Italy on Thursday before hosting Türkiye three days later.