Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba was removed from the France squad after testing positive for the coronavirus.
Pogba has been replaced by Eduardo Camavinga in Didier Deschamps’ squad to face Sweden on Sept. 5 and Croatia on Sept. 8.
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“I had to make a last-minute change to this list because Paul Pogba was planned to be in this list,” Deschamps told reporters on Thursday.
“But unfortunately for him, he took a test [for COVID-19] yesterday which turned out to be positive today, so at the last minute he was replaced by Eduardo Camavinga.”
The news will come as a blow to United, who return for preseason training next Wednesday. Aaron Wan-Bissaka is already set to miss the start of preseason training with the club as he undergoes a 14-day quarantine after returning from holiday in Dubai.
Earlier this week, United captain Harry Maguire was found guilty of aggravated assault, resisting arrest and repeated attempts of bribery following a trial on the Greek island of Syros, regarding an altercation with police officers on Mykonos. Maguire will appeal the decision.
Pogba’s United teammate Anthony Martial returns to France‘s squad and could make his first appearance since 2018 after a strong end to the season, which saw him score six goals in the final nine Premier League games of the campaign after the restart.
Everyone at #MUFC wishes @PaulPogba a safe and speedy recovery after testing positive for COVID-19 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/j0PJIiSheH
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 27, 2020
Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar, who has been linked with a move to Manchester City, also has been included after his impressive performances in the Champions League, in which he led his side to the semifinals.
Tottenham midfielder Tanguy Ndombele has been left out of the squad, along with City defender Aymeric Laporte and Sevilla’s Jules Kounde.
France squad
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris, Mike Maignan, Steve Mandanda
Defenders: Lucas Digne, Leo Dubois, Lucas Hernandez, Presnel Kimpembe, Clement Lenglet, Ferland Mendy, Dayot Upamecano, Raphael Varane
Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga, N’Golo Kante, Steven Nzonzi, Adrien Rabiot, Moussa Sissoko
Forwards: Houssem Aouar, Wissam Ben Yedder, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, Jonathan Ikone, Anthony Martial, Kylian Mbappe
Information from Reuters was used in this report.
