France could field as many as seven Serie A players when they face Italy at the Stade de France in Paris on Friday evening.
The fixture will be Zinedine Zidane’s first home match as France head coach since succeeding Didier Deschamps. The former Juventus player has selected seven Serie A names for his first international break, including Como duo Jean Butez and Lucas Da Cunha, who have received their first call-ups.
Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu, Inter player Andy Diouf, Roma midfielder Manu Kone and Milan midfielder Adrien Rabiot are the other Serie A representatives in the squad.
Maignan has been France’s first-choice goalkeeper throughout 2026 and is expected to start against Italy. The make-up of the rest of the team remains less certain, with several players competing for places.
Reports from Il Messaggero indicate that Diouf and Kalulu could be selected as France’s full-backs. Other predictions, however, have Jules Kounde and Adrien Truffert starting in those positions instead.
Kone and Rabiot are both pushing to return to the starting line-up after being left out of the team for Monday night’s match against Belgium. Da Cunha started that game but could be rotated out against Italy.
France are expected to select an attacking trio of Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue. Italy will not have to deal with Kylian Mbappe, who has returned to Real Madrid ahead of schedule.
The Azzurri have also released Federico Dimarco, Bryan Cristante, Nicolo Zaniolo and Giacomo Raspadori from the squad since the September-October camp began.
France squad
Goalkeepers: Guillaume Restes (Toulouse), Mike Maignan (Milan), Jean Butez (Como).
Defenders: Pierre Kalulu (Juventus), Adrien Truffert (Bournemouth), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), Andy Diouf (Inter), Leny Yoro (Manchester United), Maxence Lacroix (Chelsea), Jeremy Jacquet (Liverpool).
Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Manu Kone (Roma), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), Adrien Rabiot (Milan), Maghnes Akliouche (PSG), Lucas Da Cunha (Como).
Forwards: Ousmane Dembele (PSG), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Bradley Barcola (Liverpool), Esteban Lepaul (Rennes), Desire Doue (PSG).
A predicted 4-3-3 line-up is: Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Jacquet, Truffert; Cherki, Kone, Rabiot; Olise, Dembele, Doue.