Ahead of the first international break of the 2022/23 campaign, France have released their squad for their upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures and Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele has been called up by manager Didier Deschamps.
The 25-year-old has not played for Les Bleus since June last year when he picked up an injury while participating in the UEFA Euro 2020. However, he had been since overlooked by the French national team boss, even though the forward was back in form earlier this year.
With the World Cup on the horizon, France will play Austria and Denmark in the UEFA Nations League over the next couple of weeks. The encounters will act as preparation for the quadrennial extravaganza in Qatar that will start in November.
And, Deschamps has decided to recall Dembele to the squad, naming the Barcelona winger among the 23-strong list for the upcoming set of fixtures.
Dembele has made a rousing start to the new campaign after re-signing with the Catalan giants, following the expiry of his previous contract on June 30. He has scored two goals and set up four more for his teammates in seven matches in all competitions.
The 25-year-old was part of the France national team that won the World Cup four years ago in 2018. And if he continues in the same vein of form, there is a good chance that he could be a part of the squad that will look to defend that crown in Qatar later this year.
Dembele will be joined by his Barça teammate Jules Kounde, who is also on the squad list released by the French national team.
Barcelona loanee Antoine Griezmann has also been named in the squad by Deschamps despite his situation at Atletico Madrid, where he has been playing less than 30 minutes in each game this season.
