The French Football Federation have announced Didier Deschamps' 26-man squad for the UEFA Nations League Final Four, where they will meet Spain in the semi-finals. Among the names, the inclusion of 21-year-old Lyon attacker Rayan Cherki has stirred controversy due to his Algerian background.
Although born in France, Cherki is of Algerian descent and holds French nationality. This season, he has emerged as one of Lyon's most influential players, contributing 12 goals and 20 assists in 44 matches, starting 34 of them.
While he has been a regular at youth level for France, questions have grown over whether Deschamps was deliberately delaying his full international debut.
The uncertainty had sparked debate in recent months, with some suggesting the player should commit to Algeria to secure his international future. However, on Wednesday, any speculation was put to rest as Cherki was named in France's squad for the upcoming Nations League finals.
Asked whether the call-up was linked to concerns over his potential switch to Algeria, Deschamps responded bluntly: "I have not selected him to stop him from choosing Algeria. I never take those things into account and I never will."
Aside from his inclusion, the squad largely meets expectations. Kylian Mbappe headlines the attacking line alongside Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele.
In midfield, Warren Zaire-Emery continues to benefit from regular minutes under Luis Enrique at PSG, while Clement Lenglet earns his place in defence following a solid spell on loan at Atletico Madrid.
Here is the full France squad for the 2025 UEFA Nations League Final Four:
Goalkeepers: Lucas Chevalier, Mike Maignan and Brice Samba
Defenders: Loic Bade, Lucas Digne, Malo Gusto, Theo Hernandez, Lucas Hernandez, Pierre Kalulu, Ibrahima Konate, Clement Lenglet and Benjamin Pavard
Midfielders: Matteo Guendouzi, Manu Kone, Adrien Rabiot, Aurelien Tchouameni and Warren Zaire-Emery
Forwards: Bradley Barcola, Rayan Cherki, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Randal Kolo Muani, Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise and Marcus Thuram