France’s World Cup Qualifiers Hit by Thuram Injury: Can Attacking Woes be Fixed?
1 octobre 2025
Thuram sidelined as France eye World Cup qualifiers
Marcus Thuram, Inter Milan’s rising star, is set to miss France’s upcoming World Cup qualifying fixtures against Azerbaijan and Iceland after the club confirmed a muscular injury he sustained in training.
Thuram had shone in Inter’s 3-0 Champions League win over Slavia Prague on Tuesday, but a knock before delivering the back-heel that produced the third goal complicated his return timeline.
Inter, sitting fifth in Serie A, said scans on Wednesday revealed a left hamstring strain, with a re-evaluation planned for next week.
As a result, Thuram will sit out the upcoming league match versus Cremonese at San Siro, and Italian outlets hint he could be out for up to a month.
France will face two decisive qualifiers in October: Azerbaijan in Paris on October 10, then Iceland on October 13.
Deschamps had hoped to count on the form of Hugo Ekitike, who recently joined Liverpool for around 95 million euros from Frankfurt.
His injury compounds France's attacking woes, leaving the side short of firepower in the squad.
Meanwhile, Ekitike, the young forward, left Liverpool's Champions League match against Galatasaray with an injury, potentially ruling him out of further European duty.
The player, said to have injured his right thigh, could miss forthcoming France fixtures against Azerbaijan and Iceland this month.
Deschamps is set to name his squad on Thursday for the Group D games, with France hosting Azerbaijan in Paris on October 10 before traveling to Iceland three days later.
France also face absences among other attackers, with Ousmane Dembélé and other PSG and Manchester City teammates sidelined by injuries, rendering the attack thinner than before.
France sit top of Group D with six points from two games, three clear of Iceland in second.
Punchline 1: If injuries were goals, France would be leading the league—just with a lot of rest, rehab, and plot twists for the treadmill-loving medical staff.
Punchline 2: When life gives you hamstring strains, make World Cup paperwork—because it’s going to take more than a crutch to bounce back from this one.
