Guendouzi to replace injured Matuidi in France squad for Euro

Blaise Matuidi injury caused him to pull out of Euro Squad

Matteo Guendouzi of Arsenal, has been called up for France squad after Juventus midfielder Blaise Matuidi was injured and forced to withdraw from Euro squad.

The 20-year-old had been part of the French U21 squad, but instead, join up with Didier Deschamps’ senior side for their Euro 2020 qualifiers against Moldova and Albania.

Matuidi, who has 84 caps for France, and was a key part of the side that won the 2018 World Cup, was taken off 70 minutes into Juventus’ 1-0 win over AC Milan on Sunday. Coach Maurizio Sarri admitted the 32-year-old needed more tests for a potential fracture.

Guendouzi, who has played 21 times for France’s U21 side, was also called up as injury replacement during the last international break when Manchester United star Paul Pogba pulled out injured but is yet to make his debut.

Also meanwhile, Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy was also recalled to the France squad for the Euro 2020 qualifiers against Moldova and Albania. Adrien Rabiot, who replaced Matuidi against the Rossoneri, is unsurprisingly overlooked once more though most notable omissions are two World Cup-winning Barcelona stars, Ousmane Dembele and Samuel Umtiti.

Left-back Benjamin Mendy, was part of the squad that won the 2018 World Cup in Russia but has not played for his France winning his ninth cap in a UEFA Nations League game against the Netherlands in September last year. Lucas Hernandez was not picked up as he is recapturing from injury.

France are currently at the top of the qualifying Group H table, with Turkey with 19 points each and four points clear of Iceland with two matches remaining, and the top two advancing to the 24-team finals.