France: Kroupi called up for first time to replace injured Thuram

Bournemouth forward Kroupi, 20, called up to France for the first time to replace injured Marcus Thuram for Nations League matches.

Eli Junior Kroupi has received his first senior call-up to the France squad, selected by manager Zinédine Zidane to cover for Marcus Thuram, who is sidelined with a right hamstring issue sustained during Inter's Serie A match against Como on Sunday.

The 20-year-old Bournemouth attacker had been monitored closely by Zidane's staff and was on the extended list. Zidane explained that Kroupi had been unavailable earlier due to a two-to-three-month injury but impressed on his return, providing an assist in 30 minutes against Leeds on 31 October. He has since played just over 20 minutes in Premier League action against Ipswich.

Kroupi, a former Lorient player, scored 13 goals in the Premier League last season for Bournemouth. He joins Paris FC's Pablo Pagis as a new face in the squad, with both having played together at Lorient. Kroupi has progressed through France's youth system, earning five caps for the U21 side with three goals.