The FFF officially confirmed on Tuesday the call-up of Eli Junior Kroupi, the Bournemouth forward, to the France national team for the first time. He replaces Marcus Thuram, the Inter Milan forward, who is out injured with a right hamstring problem.
The news broke on Tuesday 10 November 2026: Eli Junior Kroupi (20) has been called up to the France national team for the first time, according to franceinfo. The French Football Federation officially confirmed the call-up to cover for the withdrawal of Marcus Thuram.
Thuram felt tightness in his right hamstring on Sunday 8 November during Inter’s match at Como (2-0), franceinfo reports, and was unable to train the following day. To replace him, head coach Zinédine Zidane has therefore selected the Bournemouth forward.
A preliminary list, then left out
Kroupi was already on Zinédine Zidane’s preliminary list, according to Le10Sport. He had, however, been left out of the main squad announced on 6 November, because of a lack of match rhythm following a metatarsal fracture.
The head coach explained his choice. “He is in the extended list, he could have come and been with us. The only thing is that he was injured for 2-3 months,” he said, quoted by Le10Sport. “Even though he came back very well because he made an assist and did lots of things in 30 minutes, it was still a bit short,” he added.
57 minutes in four appearances
The Cherries forward returned to competitive action on 25 October after foot surgery. Since then, he has played only 57 minutes in four appearances, maxifoot reports.
In the 2-0 win against Leeds United, he provided an assist in 22 minutes, according to Le10Sport. His previous season was far more substantial: he scored 13 goals in the Premier League for Bournemouth, franceinfo highlights.
Third new face
With this call-up, Kroupi becomes the third new face of this November gathering, alongside Pablo Pagis (Paris FC) and Saël Kumbedi (Wolfsburg), maxifoot indicates.
The son of the former Ivory Coast international who played for AS Nancy-Lorraine, Kroupi will first face Italy in Milan on 12 November, two days after the FFF announcement, in the Nations League. France will then play Turkey on 15 November, according to foot-national.