‘He has to prove himself’ – Deschamps challenges French-Congolese striker Jean-Philippe Mateta to earn France spot

France coach Didier Deschamps has challenged Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta to prove he deserves a permanent spot in Les Bleus after earning his latest call-up for the October international window.

The French-born forward, who also has Congolese heritage, was selected after a remarkable season in England, where he scored 17 goals in all competitions and helped Crystal Palace capture the FA Cup — the club’s first major trophy in its 164-year history.

Mateta, 28, previously represented France at youth level and played a key role at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where the team won silver.

His consistent form under Oliver Glasner has pushed him back into contention for the senior national team as France prepare for World Cup qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Iceland.

Deschamps, while acknowledging Mateta’s scoring instincts, cautioned that the striker must now prove his value within a competitive squad environment.

“He has to do what he knows how to do, which is to play as naturally as possible,” Deschamps told reporters.

“He has a good habit of scoring goals, whether for his club or with the younger teams and the Olympic team during the Olympic Games. So this is a big moment for him. Let him come with his enthusiasm and his qualities.”

The French coach added that national team selection goes beyond personal preference, stressing the importance of consistency and performance at every level.

“He knows most of the players because he’s seen them in the younger teams too. It’s not about winning me over. That’s not how it works. He has to prove himself in the team, in training and during matches,” Deschamps said.

France, who lead Group D, will host Azerbaijan at the Parc des Princes on October 10 before travelling to Reykjavik to face Iceland three days later as they edge closer to qualification for the 2026 World Cup.