Soccer-Kumbedi gets first France call up to replace injured Kalulu

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Olympique Lyonnais v Paris St Germain - Groupama Stadium, Lyon, France - September 3, 2023 Olympique Lyonnais' Sael Kumbedi during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo

PARIS, Nov ⁠9 (Reuters) - France have called ⁠up VfL Wolfsburg right-back Sael ‌Kumbedi for the first time to replace the injured Pierre Kalulu, ​the French Football ⁠Federation (FFF) said on ⁠Monday.

• Kumbedi plays for Wolfsburg ⁠in ‌the Germansecond tier.

• The 21-year-old defender ⁠has played nine times for the ​France ‌under-21 team.

• Kalulu has suffered ⁠a ​left hamstring injury, the FFF said on Monday, while ⁠Jules Kounde was not ​included inZinedine Zidane's squad on Friday because of an ankle ⁠injury.

• France face Italy on Thursday in Milan and Turkey on Sunday in ​Bordeaux.

• LesBleus only ⁠need a draw against Italy ​to secure a ‌Nations League quarter-final ​berth.

(Reporting by Vincent Daheron; Editing by Ken Ferris)