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Zidane calls up Kumbedi, second-division full-back, to replace Kalulu

Ruled out with a hamstring injury, Pierre Kalulu is replaced in the France squad by Saël Kumbedi, 21, who plays for Wolfsburg in the German second division and has never worn the senior shirt.

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Zidane calls up Kumbedi, second-division full-back, to replace Kalulu
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Zinédine Zidane has called up Saël Kumbedi to the France squad to cover for Pierre Kalulu’s withdrawal due to a hamstring injury this weekend. The Juventus defender will not be available for the final two matches of the UEFA Nations League group stage: an away trip to Italy, to Milan, on Thursday evening, then hosting Turkey in Bordeaux three days later.

The manager’s choice is surprising. At 21, Kumbedi has never yet been included in a senior squad, and his club, Wolfsburg, is currently competing in the German second division. Trained at Le Havre, the full-back joined Olympique Lyonnais in 2022 before being loaned to Wolfsburg in 2025. His permanent transfer was made official in January 2026 for six million euros.

This call-up nonetheless fits the approach Zidane has displayed since taking office. The manager himself explained on Téléfoot that he does not hesitate to look at second-division matches to observe his targets: “I can even watch a second-division match, and in fact that’s what I do from time to time.” A philosophy that U21 defender Nathan Zézé had already relayed a few weeks ago, revealing the message passed on by Zidane to young internationals: “He sent us a positive message that we are being watched and that we are not so far from the castle.”

A regular starter with the U21s, Kumbedi will therefore discover Clairefontaine during this second gathering under Zidane’s leadership of the Blues.

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