Thierry Henry unveils a pre-list of 25 players without Kylian Mbappé but with Alexandre Lacazette for the Olympic Games

The coach revealed a list which, by his own admission, is likely to evolve. Some clubs have yet to agree to release their players.

A first list without Kylian Mbappé. Thierry Henry, coach of the French U23 team, revealed on Monday June 3 a pre-list of 25 players called to prepare for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (July 24-August 9). If the two Parisians Bradley Barcola and Warren Zaire-Emery are among those selected, this is not the case for their former teammate Kylian Mbappé. “We are not drawing a definitive line, with everything that can happen until July 3assured the coach. It’s a bit hard, but you have to be in the reality of the moment. We don’t close the door to anyone, but the people I spoke with (for Mbappé) were very direct.”

As a reminder, only players under 23 (born in 2001 or later) are eligible, but the coaches have the right to bring with them three jokers with no age limit. Thierry Henry has called two, for the moment: the attackers Alexandre Lacazette, who plays in Lyon, and Jean-Philippe Mateta, who wears the colors of Crystal Palace (England). Concerning the third, negotiations were still underway just before opening the door to the auditorium of the French Football Federation.

“It’s the least virtual list, it’s the list of the moment. It can evolve. The door is open for everyone, but it’s the clubs that have the power,” regretted the coach, left to the good will of the clubs. “We took two names 25 minutes ago”he added to show how much uncertainty still reigns a month and a half before the start of the Olympic Games.

These players – if they are indeed released by their clubs – are expected at Clairefontaine for a fortnight’s preparation course from June 16. At the end of this, only 18 names will be selected for the Olympic tournament. Thierry Henry has until July 3 to send his final list to Fifa and the International Olympic Committee.

The next day, his team will begin its preparation with a match in Bayonne against Paraguay. Confrontations with the Dominican Republic will follow on July 11, then against Japan on the 17th in Toulon. The Blues will enter the Olympic Games on July 24, in Marseille against the United States, two days before the opening ceremony.

Thierry Henry’s pre-list:

Guardians: Guillaume Restes (Toulouse), Obed Nkambadio (Paris FC), Lucas Chevalier (Lille), Robin Risser (Dijon)
Defenders: Castello Lukeba (Leipzig), Leny Yoro (Lille), Maxime Estève (Burnley), Adrien Truffert (Rennes), Bradley Locko (Brest), Kiliann Sildillia (Fribourg), Bafodé Diakité (Lille)
Environments : Khephren Thuram (Nice), Manu Koné (Mönchengladbach), Enzo Millot (Stuttgart), Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco), Joris Chotard (Montpellier), Warren Zaire-Emery (PSG), Lesley Ugochukwu (Chelsea)
Attackers: Bradley Barcola (PSG), Désiré Doué (Rennes), Arnaud Kalimuendo (Rennes), Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon), Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace), Michael Olise (Crystal Palace), Mathys Tel (Bayern Munich)