Lens striker Florian Thauvin revealed on Tuesday that he has been included in France’s preliminary World Cup squad, but offered no further updates on his chances of making the final cut. Speaking during a press conference, Thauvin said a brief conversation with head coach Didier Deschamps at Monday night’s UNFP awards ceremony provided no hints about his ultimate selection.
According to reports from L’Équipe, Thauvin will have one last opportunity to showcase his abilities before the final squad announcement when Lens host Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday evening. However, the forward downplayed the importance of that match, suggesting it is unlikely to alter the manager’s decisions.
“I met the coach at the ceremony yesterday, just like many people in football. The chat was very short. As he said yesterday on the microphone, he already has a clear picture,” Thauvin stated during Tuesday’s press conference.
Thauvin had just returned from the UNFP awards, where he was named to the Ligue 1 Team of the Season but lost the Player of the Year honor to Ousmane Dembélé.
“I am on the preliminary list. That’s all I know about the squad situation. It’s nice to be part of the extended list, but this isn’t new — it’s been the case for nearly two years.”
The striker made his return to the national team during last October’s training camp, ending a gap of more than six years since his last appearance for France. However, he was not included in the squad for the team’s trip to the United States in March.
