France national team manager Zinédine Zidane has unveiled his second squad as Les Bleus’ boss. Like he did in September, the 1998 Ballon d’Or winner has named 23 players to represent France for the November international break. Les Bleus are in the driving seat to qualify for the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals after winning three games and drawing one in their A1 group.

Les Bleus will play Italy away at Milan’s San Siro on Thursday, November 12 before hosting Türkiye three days later at Bordeaux’s Stade Atlantique. A number of established France internationals will miss out through injury, such as William Saliba, Maxence Lacroix, Manu Koné, Ousmane Dembélé and Maghnes Akliouche.

The latter’s absence made Zidane pick Paris FC midfielder Pablo Pagis. The son of Mickaël Pagis earns his senior maiden France call-up. Les Bleus’ lack of depth up front, compounded by Estéban Lepaul’s injury, benefits Inter Milan’s Marcus Thuram.

Real Madrid duo Ibrahima Konaté and Aurélien Tchouaméni are back in France’s squad after missing out on Zidane’s debut games as Les Bleus’ boss. Their teammate Kylian Mbappé, who scored the first goal of the Zidane era in injuring himself, also returns to the fore. Debutants from the last France camp have also earned a recall as Guillaume Restes, Andy Diouf, Jéremy Jacquet, Leny Yoro and Lucas Da Cunha are back.

Zinédine Zidane’s France squad for the international break:

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

Defenders: Andy Diouf (Inter Milan), 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 (Milan), Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid), Warren Zaïre-Emery (PSG)

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