Didier Deschamps explains Hugo Ekitike snub
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Image Credits: Imago ImagesHugo Ekitike’s sensational start to life at Liverpool has counted for nothing as Didier Deschamps confirmed the striker’s omission from France’s 23-man squad for their upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers, marking another frustrating international snub for the 23-year-old.
The decision comes as a genuine shock given Ekitike’s remarkable impact since his £69 million summer move from Eintracht Frankfurt.
The young striker has been nothing short of spectacular, scoring in each of his first three competitive appearances for Liverpool – finding the net in the Community Shield against Crystal Palace before continuing his goal-scoring streak with strikes against Bournemouth and Newcastle in the Premier League.
Le Figaro’s report suggested that Deschamps is reluctant to experiment with new faces given the high stakes of World Cup qualifying, particularly in a compact four-team group where France can afford few slip-ups.
Now the France manager, in his selection press conference, has suggested that his attacking options are already stacked – but that he has been keeping an eye on Ekitike:
“Hugo, we already followed him in Frankfurt, he had a very good season, so much the better for him.”
“It is very good that it is effective, but there is competition, he said as quoted by French Football Weekly.
“I’m not going to accumulate [too many] players but obviously he has the potential to be in the France team?
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Deschamps called up Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé, PSG’s Ousmane Dembélé and Inter Milan’s Marcus Thuram as his attacking options
The likes of Rayan Cherki, Michael Olise and PSG pair Désiré Doué and Bradley Barcola are also among the attacking options that the French manager will count on.
For Ekitike, it will come as a bitter pill to swallow after perfoming so well in the Liverpool shirt.
But for the Anfield club and Arne Slot, it’s one less player to get injured on national team duty.
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