France’s Star Duo Misses Training Ahead of Ukraine Clash
11 November 2025
Injury-hit France prep for Ukraine clash
France's key duo Jules Koundé and Eduardo Camavinga missed the team's training session as they prepare for a World Cup 2026 qualifier against Ukraine.
The fixture is part of the ninth round of European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, scheduled for November 13.
According to L'Equipe, Koundé and Camavinga did not train with France, instead jogging around the pitch and signing autographs for fans.
Squad changes and group context
After facing Ukraine, France will meet Azerbaijan in the tenth and final round on November 16.
France tops its group with 10 points, securing three wins and a draw.
Didier Deschamps made an early adjustment: Tottenham's Randal Kolo Muani was ruled out with a jaw fracture, prompting recall of Florent Thauvin from Lens to the squad, 32, to replace Muani.
Injury concerns and lineup details
Muani had already missed several matches earlier in the season with a thigh muscle injury and had not scored for Tottenham; Thauvin had returned to the national team in October after more than six years away.
Deschamps named 24 players for the Ukraine and Azerbaijan fixtures, including goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier (PSG), Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Brice Samba (Stade Rennais); defenders: Lucas Digne (Aston Villa), Malo Gusto (Chelsea), Lucas Hernandez (PSG), Theo Hernandez (Al Hilal), Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool), Jules Koundé (Barcelona), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich); midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), N'Golo Kanté (Al Nassr), Manu Koné (Monza), Michaël Olise (Bayern), Warren Zaïre-Emery (PSG); attackers: Magnus Akliouche (Monaco), Bradley Barcola (PSG), Rayan Cherki (Lyon), Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool), Randal Kolo Muani (Tottenham), Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace), Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid), Christopher Nkunku (Milan).
France also faces injuries, notably Ousmane Dembélé; the coach refused to assign blame, saying he does not give lessons and that clubs must manage their players according to their own data.
In the Champions League, PSG opened with three straight wins, then beat Barcelona and Leverkusen, before a loss to Bayern; last summer PSG fell short in the Club World Cup final to Chelsea.
He ended with a touch of humor about the calendar’s unpredictability, acknowledging that football loves a good plot twist.
Punchline 1: If injuries were players, France would have to register a new squad just to fill the bench. Punchline 2: Deschamps says he doesn’t give lessons—guess his real coaching diploma is in managing the calendar, not the training ground.
