PARIS, FRANCE, March 19 (V7N )— Kylian Mbappe has been recalled to lead the France national team for upcoming international friendlies against Brazil and Colombia in the United States, marking his return after a recent knee injury.

France head coach Didier Deschamps included the Real Madrid forward in his squad announced Thursday, following Mbappe’s comeback appearance off the bench in a UEFA Champions League win over Manchester City earlier this week.

The France captain had missed his club’s previous five matches but is now expected to lead the attack in the high-profile fixtures against Brazil national football team on March 26 in Foxborough, Massachusetts, and Colombia national football team near Washington, D.C., three days later.

The squad features a blend of experienced stars and emerging talents, with forwards Hugo Ekitike of Liverpool and Rayan Cherki of Manchester City among the attacking options. Goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier has also been included despite recently losing his starting place at Paris Saint-Germain.

“These matches are crucial as we finalize preparations ahead of the World Cup,” Deschamps indicated through the squad selection, with the fixtures serving as the final opportunity to assess players before announcing the رسمی tournament squad on May 13.

France, known as Les Bleus, have been drawn in Group I for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, alongside Senegal national football team, Norway national football team, and a yet-to-be-determined play-off winner.

The return of Mbappe is seen as a significant boost for France as they look to fine-tune their squad ahead of the global tournament, with expectations high for another strong campaign.

END//WSP/RH