Eintracht Frankfurt’s centre-forward Randal Kolo Muani has been named in France’s squad as the replacement for injured RB Leipzig attacker Christopher Nkunku who sustained a blow that will rule him out of the 2022 World Cup.
This season, Kolo Muani has made 23 appearances for Frankfurt and scored eight goals. In the Nations League in September, he made his first two starts for France as a substitute against Austria and Denmark.
Nkunku is the latest well-known French player to be ruled out of the World Cup due to injury, joining centre-back Presnel Kimpembe, and instrumental midfield duo Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante.
Nkunku’s injury during Tuesday’s practise forced him to withdraw from the World Cup. With a left knee injury, the RB Leipzig attacker departed the workout early. Social media users have been sharing a video of Nkunku clashing with teammate and Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga.
However, the French attack is already stacked with quality, with the likes of Karim Benzema, Antoine Griezmann, Thomas Lemar, Kingsley Coman, Olivier Giroud, and Moussa Diaby all a part of the side. Kolo Muani will be the latest edition of a highly competitive French attack, who will be trying to upstage one another in a bid to be part of the starting XI in Didier Deschamps’ side’s defence of the World Cup.
France will be delighted with the inclusion of Ballon d’Or winner Benzema in the side, who scored more than 40 goals for Real Madrid in a double-winning season for the Los Blancos. The striker had missed out for the Les Blues in 2018 after he was banished for some off-field controversies.
Along with Australia, Denmark, and Tunisia, France is in group D. On November 22 at the Al Janoub Stadium, the defending champion will open its tournament campaign against the Socceroos.
