Bournemouth's Eli Junior Kroupi Called Up To France Squad For First Time

France hand Kroupi first call-up

At just 20, Eli Junior Kroupi has gone from lighting up Ligue 2 with Lorient to scoring goals in the Premier League - now he gets his first taste of senior international football with France.

From Ligue 2 top scorer to Les Bleus, Kroupi replaces Thuram in France squad...

Bournemouth striker Eli Junior Kroupi has been handed his maiden France call-up, replacing the injured Marcus Thuram in the squad, the French Football Federation announced on Tuesday.

Kroupi shot to prominence last season after finishing as Ligue 2's top scorer with 22 goals for Lorient, a breakout campaign that earned him his move to Bournemouth.

The 20-year-old, a five-time France Under-21 international, has carried that form into England, scoring 13 goals in his first Premier League season.

He has featured in just four matches in all competitions this season, having spent much of the campaign recovering from a foot injury.

Thuram, meanwhile, has been ruled out after picking up a right hamstring injury.

Éli Junior Kroupi (Bournemouth) est convoqué pour la 1ère fois en Bleu, en remplacement de Marcus Thuram (ischio droit). Il rejoindra le groupe ce soir à Clairefontaine 🇫🇷 https://t.co/bUlFmEHIYe

— Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) November 10, 2026

France travel to face Italy in Milan on Thursday, before hosting Turkey in Bordeaux on Sunday.

Les Bleus need only a draw against Italy to book their place in the Nations League quarter-finals.