Paris, November 9 / BNA / The French Football Federation announced the exclusion of midfielder Paul Pogba from the World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Finland after suffering a right thigh injury.
The Manchester United player was seen leaving a training session on Monday accompanied by team doctor Frank Le Gall.
“Paul Pogba was forced to withdraw from France’s next two matches in the Parc des Princes, against Kazakhstan and against Finland in Helsinki,” the statement read.
Reuters reported that he will be replaced in the squad by Roma player Jordan Veretot.
France top Group D in qualifying with 12 points from six matches and a victory over Kazakhstan will secure a place in next year’s World Cup finals.
But coach Didier Deschamps cautioned against complacency as the world champions face a team that has not won any of their seven group matches.
“The important thing is to reach our goal and qualify for the World Cup,” Deschamps told a news conference. “All my energy and our focus should be on that.”
“We should not think that we are really qualified because only Kazakhstan. We are entering the game with all our determination and strength to win.”
France will also travel to Finland next Tuesday.