France overlook Ekitike for World Cup qualifiers, Akliouche called up / Photo: ANDY BUCHANAN - AFP/File
-
Stock market optimism returns after tech selloff but Wall Street wobbles
-
Clarke warns Scotland fans over sky-high World Cup prices
-
In Israel, Sydney attack casts shadow over Hanukkah
-
Son arrested after Rob Reiner and wife found dead: US media
-
Athletes to stay in pop-up cabins in the woods at Winter Olympics
-
England seek their own Bradman in bid for historic Ashes comeback
-
Decades after Bosman, football's transfer war rages on
-
Ukraine hails 'real progress' in Zelensky's talks with US envoys
-
Nobel winner Machado suffered vertebra fracture leaving Venezuela
-
Stock market optimism returns after tech sell-off
-
Iran Nobel winner unwell after 'violent' arrest: supporters
-
Police suspect murder in deaths of Hollywood giant Rob Reiner and wife
-
'Angry' Louvre workers' strike shuts out thousands of tourists
-
EU faces key summit on using Russian assets for Ukraine
-
Maresca committed to Chelsea despite outburst
-
Trapped, starving and afraid in besieged Sudan city
-
Showdown looms as EU-Mercosur deal nears finish line
-
Messi mania peaks in India's pollution-hit capital
-
Wales captains Morgan and Lake sign for Gloucester
-
Serbian minister indicted over Kushner-linked hotel plan
-
Eurovision 2026 will feature 35 countries: organisers
-
Cambodia says Thailand bombs province home to Angkor temples
-
US-Ukrainian talks resume in Berlin with territorial stakes unresolved
-
Small firms join charge to boost Europe's weapon supplies
-
Driver behind Liverpool football parade 'horror' warned of long jail term
-
German shipyard, rescued by the state, gets mega deal
-
Flash flood kills dozens in Morocco town
-
'We are angry': Louvre Museum closed as workers strike
-
Australia to toughen gun laws as it mourns deadly Bondi attack
-
Stocks diverge ahead of central bank calls, US data
-
Wales captain Morgan to join Gloucester
-
UK pop star Cliff Richard reveals prostate cancer treatment
-
Mariah Carey to headline Winter Olympics opening ceremony
-
Indonesia to revoke 22 forestry permits after deadly floods
-
Louvre Museum closed as workers strike
-
Spain fines Airbnb 64 mn euros for posting banned properties
-
Japan's only two pandas to be sent back to China
-
Zelensky, US envoys to push on with Ukraine talks in Berlin
-
Australia to toughen gun laws after deadly Bondi shootings
-
Lyon poised to bounce back after surprise Brisbane omission
-
Australia defends record on antisemitism after Bondi Beach attack
-
US police probe deaths of director Rob Reiner, wife as 'apparent homicide'
-
'Terrified' Sydney man misidentified as Bondi shooter
-
Cambodia says Thai air strikes hit home province of heritage temples
-
EU-Mercosur trade deal faces bumpy ride to finish line
-
Inside the mind of Tolkien illustrator John Howe
-
Mbeumo faces double Cameroon challenge at AFCON
-
Tongue replaces Atkinson in only England change for third Ashes Test
-
England's Brook vows to rein it in after 'shocking' Ashes shots
-
Bondi Beach gunmen had possible Islamic State links, says ABC
NYSE - LSE
| SCS | 0.12% | 16.14 | $ | |
| CMSC | -0.04% | 23.291 | $ | |
| RBGPF | -4.49% | 77.68 | $ | |
| RIO | -0.23% | 75.485 | $ | |
| RYCEF | 2.01% | 14.9 | $ | |
| VOD | 1.18% | 12.74 | $ | |
| NGG | 0.93% | 75.63 | $ | |
| BTI | 0.69% | 57.495 | $ | |
| GSK | 0.59% | 49.1 | $ | |
| BCE | 1.07% | 23.6465 | $ | |
| CMSD | 0.21% | 23.3 | $ | |
| RELX | 1.76% | 41.103 | $ | |
| BP | -0.54% | 35.07 | $ | |
| AZN | 1.51% | 91.21 | $ | |
| JRI | 0.1% | 13.58 | $ | |
| BCC | -1.84% | 75.125 | $ |
France overlook Ekitike for World Cup qualifiers, Akliouche called up
Hugo Ekitike missed out on a place in the France squad named Wednesday for the start of their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, but coach Didier Deschamps did hand a first senior call-up to highly-rated Monaco winger Maghnes Akliouche.
Ekitike has made an impressive start to his Liverpool career with three goals in three competitive outings since arriving in the close-season from Eintracht Frankfurt.
However the 23-year-old striker, who scored five goals in five appearances for the France Under-21 side last season, will have to wait for his chance in the senior squad, where competition is fierce.
France, World Cup winners in 2018 and runners-up in 2022, begin their bid to qualify for next year's finals in North America with a trip to Poland to play Ukraine next Friday, September 5.
They then host Iceland in Paris on Tuesday, September 9. Azerbaijan will be their other opponents in Group D, with further matches to be played in October and November and the group winners qualifying automatically for the finals.
Akliouche, 23, has been on the fringes of the full France squad for some time thanks to his impressive displays for Monaco which have led to him being linked with other big clubs around Europe.
He was part of Thierry Henry's team which won the silver medal at the Paris Olympics last year.
Rayan Cherki, who made his senior France bow in June in the UEFA Nations League finals just before joining Manchester City from Lyon, is also included.
Experienced Marseille midfielder Adrien Rabiot is named as well despite being frozen out by his club and put up for sale after being involved in a dressing-room fight with a teammate earlier this month.
France squad
Goalkeepers: Lucas Chevalier (Paris Saint-Germain), Mike Maignan (AC Milan/ITA), Brice Samba (Rennes)
Defenders: Lucas Digne (Aston Villa/ENG), Malo Gusto (Chelsea/ENG), Lucas Hernandez (Paris Saint-Germain), Theo Hernandez (Al-Hilal/KSA), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool/ENG), Jules Kounde (Barcelona/ESP), William Saliba (Arsenal/ENG), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich/GER)
Midfielders: Desire Doue (Paris Saint-Germain), Manu Kone (Roma/ITA), Adrien Rabiot (Marseille), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid/ESP), Khephren Thuram (Juventus/ITA)
Forwards: Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco), Bradley Barcola (Paris Saint-Germain), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City/ENG), Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid/ESP), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich/GER), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan/ITA)
R.Garcia--AT