Pablo Pagis the surprise in France squad as Konaté and Tchouaméni return

Paris FC's Pablo Pagis has been called up to the France senior national team squad for the first time by Zinedine Zidane ahead of the UEFA Nations League matches.

With Les Bleus set to face Italy and Türkiye in their last two matches in Nations League Group A1, the 23-year-old Pagis, who has caught the eye with his performances for Paris FC under Liam Rosenior, will get the chance to prove himself in international colours. The attacking player, who has 1 goal and 2 assists in Ligue 1 this season, is among his side's most productive players in that department, having created 12 goalscoring chances.

Pagis, who found the net as Paris FC beat Monaco 3-1 last weekend, will now take his place in France's star-studded attack. Zinedine Zidane's other choices up front were Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid), Bradley Barcola (Liverpool), Désiré Doué (Paris Saint-Germain) and Michael Olise (Bayern Munich).

Alongside Marcus Thuram, who has not featured in the squad since the World Cup, Malo Gusto, Ibrahima Konaté and Aurélien Tchouaméni have also been recalled. However, Jules Koundé, Ousmane Dembélé, William Saliba, Maxence Lacroix and Estéban Lepaul, all of whom are injured, were left out. The absence of Maghnes Akliouche, who was injured in PSG's 6-0 win over Villarreal, was one of the factors that opened the national team door for Pagis.

France, who have collected 10 points from their first four matches, need just one point from their remaining two games to reach the quarter-finals. Les Bleus travel to San Siro to face Roberto Mancini's Italy on 12 November, before hosting Türkiye at the Stade Atlantique Bordeaux Métropole on 15 November.

France's squad

Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Guillaume Restes (Toulouse), Robin Risser (Lens)

Defenders: Andy Diouf (Inter), Malo Gusto (Chelsea), Jérémy Jacquet (Liverpool), Pierre Kalulu (Juventus), Ibrahima Konaté (Real Madrid), Adrien Truffert (Bournemouth), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich), Leny Yoro (Manchester United)

Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), Lucas Da Cunha (Como), Adrien Rabiot (AC Milan), Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid), Warren Zaïre-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain)

Forwards: Bradley Barcola (Liverpool), Désiré Doué (Paris Saint-Germain), Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Pablo Pagis (Paris FC), Marcus Thuram (Inter)