France call up Sael Kumbedi from Germany’s second tier after Pierre Kalulu withdrawal

Zinedine Zidane has made an unexpected addition to the France squad, calling up 21-year-old right-back Sael Kumbedi after Pierre Kalulu withdrew from the national team gathering.

Kumbedi, who currently plays for VfL Wolfsbourg in the German second division, has been handed his first opportunity to join the senior France set-up. The decision marks a major step in the defender’s career and has attracted widespread attention across French football.

The call-up is also a rare development in the history of the national team. It has been almost 20 years since a player competing outside the top division was selected for France.

The previous example came when David Trezeguet and Jean-Alain Boumsong were playing for Juventus, who had been relegated to Serie B in Italy. Their selection remains one of the few comparable precedents to Kumbedi’s promotion from a lower level.

By choosing the young defender, Zidane has highlighted his willingness to reward performances and progress on the pitch, regardless of the status or profile of the league in which a player competes.