So here is Christopher Nkunku, 26, with the Blues, more than a year after his last selection in June 2023. The Chelsea Blues striker, who has ten caps in the French team, injured in the knee and hamstring last season, was called up by Didier Deschamps on Thursday for the Tricolores’ next two matches in the Nations League against Israel in Budapest on Thursday October 10 (8:45 p.m.) and against Belgium in Brussels on Monday October 14 (8:45 p.m.).
The reappearance of Nkunku in the blue ranks is not without certain speculation, given a profile that could be similar, in certain ways, to that of Antoine Griezmann, who has just retired internationally.
However, the person concerned does not want to immediately be burdened with a label that is rather heavy to bear…
“To replace him (Griezmann)? It’s a big word, he declared on Canal + on Thursday. Griezmann is irreplaceable with the image he has with the France team and everything he has brought. There is a long way to go before we can replace it. I would also like to pay tribute to him for everything he has done for the France team. He’s a great person. I was surprised because I think he could still make the French team. Now, if he is content and happy with this choice, with his reasons, it is to his credit. »
The former Parisian striker arrives on the heels of a good streak with his London club. He has scored seven goals in ten matches, the latest on Thursday in the victory against Gantoise (4-2) in the Europa Conference League. However, Nkunku is not a full starter at the start of the season. Manager Enzo Maresca has only started him once in the Premier League so far.
Nkunku, whose debut in Blue dates back to March 2022, had been selected for the World Cup in Qatar. But a left knee sprain during training on the eve of departure for Doha deprived him of the World Cup. He was then replaced in the list by Randal Kolo Muani. In June 2023, he resumed contact with the selection, participating in two qualifying matches for Euro 2024, against Gibraltar (3-0) and Greece (1-0).
