France suffer major injury scare ahead of Euro 2024 with hugely important player at risk of missing tournament
France have potentially suffered a huge injury blow ahead of the upcoming European Championship.
Manager Didier Deschamps named a 25-man squad for this summer’s tournament in Germany and enter as favourites after winning the World Cup in 2018 and reaching the final in 2022.
France were stunned by Switzerland at the last Euros, crashing out on penalties in the round of 16, as Italy went on to beat England in the final.
They will face Netherlands, Austria and Poland in a highly competitive Group D and could face England if both teams progress as expected.
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Deschamps has been handed a major injury scare ahead of their first group game on June 17 as AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan has suffered a dislocated finger on his left hand.
Fortunately for France, a fracture has been ruled out with Maignan set to wear a brace until further tests can assess the damage.
Those tests will decide on his conditions and availability for the tournament.
West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola and Lens shot stopper Brice Samba are the other options available to Deschamps if Maignan is ultimately ruled out.
France have until June 7 to name their final squad meaning Maignan still has time to prove his fitness.
The AC Milan goalkeeper has endured a torrid season with injuries with his finger injury being the fifth time he's spent time on the treatment table this season.
He missed 10 days of action in September with a thigh problem and has only just returned after missing three games with an adductor problem.
If Maignan is to withdraw, Illan Meslier (Leeds), Lucas Chevalier (Lille), Benjamin Lectome (Montpellier) and Alban Lafont (Nantes) are all options to replace him in the French squad.
France’s squad for EURO 2024 in full:
Goalkeepers -
Areola, Maignan*, Samba
Defenders -
Kounde, Clauss, Pavard, Konaté, Saliba, Upamecano, Hernandez, Mendy
Midfielders -
Camavinga, Fofana, Rabiot, Zaire-Emery, Tchouameni, Griezmann, Kante
Attackers -
Barcola, Dembele, Coman, Giroud, Kolo Muani, Mbappe, Thuram
Topics: France, Euro 2024, Didier Deschamps, Injury
Marcus Banks