France squad: Manchester United’s Anthony Martial replaced by Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud after poor start to season
Paul Pogba, N'Golo Kante and Dimitri Payet all included as Didier Deschamps hands chance to Adrien Rabiot
ANTHONY MARTIAL has been replaced by Olivier Giroud in the latest France squad to face Sweden and Ivory Coast.
The out-of-form Manchester United star has scored just once in the Premier League this season after losing his place on the wing to Marcus Rashford.
Martial was involved in the heart-breaking Euro 2016 final defeat to Portugal in July but he now faces a tough battle to reclaim his place.
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Giroud returns after missing the World Cup qualifiers against Bulgaria and Netherlands, and came off the bench to score twice for Arsenal against Sunderland at the weekend.
He joins Atletico Madrid ace Kevin Gameiro as France’s two out-and-out strikers, with Real Madrid hitman Karim Benzema overlooked once again.
Chelsea’s midfield powerhouse N’Golo Kante is picked alongside United’s Paul Pogba in midfield, while West Ham playmaker Dimitri Payet and versatile Tottenham man Moussa Sissoko will battle it out for a place on the flanks.
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Gunners defender Laurent Koscielny is also named in the 23-man squad, with Paris Saint-Germain youngster Adrien Rabiot in line for his debut.
Borussia Dortmund prodigy Ousmane Dembele and Lyon talisman Nabil Fekir are included along with Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman, while Crystal Palace goalie Steve Mandanda is hoping to challenge Spurs skipper Hugo Lloris for a place between the sticks.
France squad: Areola, Lloris, Mandanda; Varane, Koscielny, Umtiti, Rami, Corchia, Sidibe, Digne, Kurzawa; Pogba, Matuidi, Kante, Rabiot, Sissoko, Payet; Griezmann, Fekir, Coman, Dembele, Giroud, Gameiro.