Zidane calls up ninth debutant as France continues new era

Zidane has called up Bournemouth's Eli Junior Kroupi as his ninth debutant since taking over as France manager, replacing the injured Marcus Thuram for Nations League matches against Italy and Turkey.

Zinedine Zidane continues to blood new talent at France, naming Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi as his ninth debutant since replacing Didier Deschamps after the World Cup. The 20-year-old scored 13 Premier League goals last season but missed the start of this campaign through injury. He impressed in recent substitute appearances against Leeds United and Ipswich Town, earning his first call-up to Les Bleus.

Kroupi replaces Inter striker Marcus Thuram in the squad for upcoming Nations League fixtures against Italy and Turkey. The move fulfils a long-held ambition for the Lorient-born forward, who turned down a Portugal call-up at the World Cup in hopes of representing France internationally.

Despite having a Portuguese mother and Ivorian father, Kroupi has consistently expressed his preference for a French career and has represented France across multiple youth levels.