Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery is set to become France’s youngest international in 112 years after the 17-year-up was named by Didier Deschamps on Thursday in the squad for the next round of Euro 2024 qualifiers.
He is the youngest player in the French national team since Felix Vial in 1911.
“Given what he has achieved with PSG, he has all the qualities to be at the very highest level, even if there is competition in his position,” the coach told a press conference in Paris.
“He is a candidate for the next European championships” in June and July 2024, he added.
“At his age, he’s already shown enormous potential and maturity at just over 17.”
“The absence of Aurelien Tchouameni through injury did not necessarily affect the presence of Warren Zaire-Emery,” Deschamps said.
Tchouameni was injured playing for Real Madrid against Barcelona at the end of October.
N’Golo Kante, the 2018 world champion who is now playing in the Saudi league, is also absent although Deschamps said “that doesn’t close the debate”.
“I don’t know what the situation will be in May, when we have to draw up the list” for the Euros. “He can still be selected,” he said.
France, who have won all six of their qualifiers, face Gibraltar on November 18, before travelling to Greece on November 21.
France squad:
Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola (West Ham United/ENG), Mike Maignan (AC Milan/ITA), Brice Samba (Lens)
Defenders: Jonathan Clauss (Marseille), Lucas Hernandez (Paris Saint-Germain), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan/ITA), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool/ENG), Jules Kounde (Barcelona/ESP), William Saliba (Arsenal/ENG), Jean-Clair Todibo (Nice), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich/GER)
Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid/ESP), Youssouf Fofana (Monaco), Boubacar Kamara (Aston Villa/ENG), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus/ITA), Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain)
Forwards: Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich/GER), Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain), Olivier Giroud (AC Milan/ITA), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Randal Kolo Muani (Eintracht Frankfurt/GER), Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan/ITA)
AFP