Eli Junior Kroupi earns first France call-up, closing door on potential Côte d’Ivoire switch

Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi has earned his maiden senior France call-up after being drafted into Didier Deschamps’ squad as a replacement for injured striker Marcus Thuram.

It means any hopes of featuring for Côte d’Ivoire could be over. Kroupi has Ivorian heritage through his father. Last month, he declared that he had chosen to represent France.

The 20-year-old has been handed an unexpected opportunity to make his debut for Les Bleus following confirmation from the French Football Federation (FFF) on Tuesday that Thuram would miss the upcoming international fixtures.

Thuram sustained a right hamstring injury, forcing France to make changes to their attacking options ahead of two important UEFA Nations League encounters.

For Kroupi, the late invitation represents a major milestone in his young career after an impressive rise through French football and a promising introduction to the Premier League.

The Bournemouth attacker previously featured for France at Under-21 level, making five appearances for the youth side. His performances at club level have now earned him recognition at the highest level of the national team.

Kroupi arrives at the senior setup with a growing reputation as one of France’s exciting young attacking prospects, having demonstrated his goalscoring ability in both the French second division and England.

From Ligue 2 sensation to Premier League breakthrough

Kroupi announced himself as a prolific goalscorer during the 2024-25 season, finishing as the top scorer in France’s Ligue 2 with 22 goals for Lorient.

His outstanding performances attracted interest from Bournemouth, who secured his services as he prepared for the next step in his career.

The forward subsequently made an impressive transition to English football, scoring 13 goals during his first Premier League campaign last season.

His ability to adapt to the demands of one of Europe’s most competitive leagues strengthened his growing reputation and placed him firmly on the radar of the French national team selectors.

However, his progress this season has been disrupted by injury problems.

Kroupi has featured in only four matches across all competitions this term after recovering from a foot injury, limiting his opportunities to build on last season’s impressive performances.

Despite his restricted involvement, his previous contributions have been enough to earn him a first senior international invitation.

The call-up offers the youngster an opportunity to impress Deschamps and potentially establish himself in France’s attacking plans ahead of future international competitions.

France face crucial Nations League double-header

Kroupi joins the French squad ahead of two important fixtures as they pursue qualification for the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals.

Les Bleus travel to Milan to face Italy on Thursday before returning home to meet Turkey in Bordeaux on Sunday.

France need at least a draw against Italy to secure their place in the quarter-finals, making the encounter particularly important for Deschamps’ side.

The absence of Thuram presents an opportunity for Kroupi to demonstrate what he can offer at senior international level, although he faces competition for a place in France’s attacking department.