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A32 sports
Diabierna 5 november 2021

Defender Zouma called

up for France’s World Cup

qualifiers

(AP) — With Raphael Varane out injured for a few
weeks, France coach Didier Deschamps recalled Kurt
Zouma on Thursday for upcoming World Cup quali-
fiers.

After only recently returning from a groin injury, Varane
limped off with a hamstring problem during Manchester
United’s game against Atalanta in the Champions League on
Tuesday and is expected to be out for about one month.

That means Zouma, who plays in central defense for Pre-
mier League club West Ham, could win his 11th and 12th
international caps for Les Bleus against Kazakhstan at Parc des
Princes on Nov. 13 and away to Finland in Helsinki three
days later.

Deschamps will also be without Paris Saint-Germain central
defender Presnel Kimpembe, who pulled out with a left thigh
injury on Thursday evening and was replaced by Barcelona’s
Clement Lenglet.

Zouma’s club teammate Alphonse Areola was also drafted
into the squad, although likely only as backup to No. 1 Hugo
Lloris because No. 2 Mike Maignan is sidelined with a left
wrist injury.

“Even though he does not play all the matches (for West
Ham), he plays well when he does,” Deschamps said of Are-
ola, who has three caps.