Mbappe, Griezmann absent from initial France Olympic team list

Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann were near disconnected the preliminary database of 25 players called up by hosts France for the Olympic Games shot tourney connected Monday.

Both players had indicated their tendency to enactment successful the Paris Games, but their Spanish clubs — Real Madrid, wherever Mbappe, 25, is acceptable to play adjacent season, and Atletico for 33-year-old Griezmann — person said they volition not merchandise them.

World Cup-winning guardant and France skipper Mbappe volition pb France astatine Euro 2024, which runs from June 14 to July 14 successful Germany.

“I person to springiness a reasonably realistic list, adjacent if I cognize that it is virtual,” said France Olympic shot manager Thierry Henry, earlier adding that helium was “still hoping” to beryllium capable to telephone upon Mbappe during the Olympic tournament.

“Everything is unfastened for everyone, but we indispensable springiness a database truthful that everyone tin prepare. But we are not closing the doorway to anyone.”

Paris Saint-Germain duo Warren Zaire-Emery and Bradley Barcola and Lyon guardant Alexandre Lacazette were named successful the preliminary list.

“It’s a pre-list for preparation, it tin evolve, and, successful my opinion, it volition evolve,” continued Henry, with the last deadline connected July 3.

A root adjacent to PSG had indicated that the French Ligue 1 champions had refused to merchandise Zaire-Emery, 18, and 21-year-old Barcola, who person besides been called up for Euro 2024 successful Germany.

Former France and Arsenal guardant Henry lone retained 2 players implicit 23 years, contempt being entitled to three, opting for 33-year-old Lacazette, whom helium described arsenic “a subordinate of quality, a person of men”, and Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta.

France volition statesman grooming connected June 16 with affable matches against Paraguay connected July 4 successful Bayonne, the Dominican Republic connected July 11 and Japan connected July 17 successful Toulon.

The Olympic shot contention begins connected July 24 and runs to August 9, with France successful a radical alongside the United States, New Zealand and Guinea.