Tottenham Hotspur forward Randal Kolo Muani has been forced to withdraw from the France national team after sustaining a jaw injury during Saturday’s 2-2 Premier League draw with Manchester United, the French Football Federation (FFF) confirmed on Sunday.
The 26-year-old striker was substituted at halftime, and while Spurs manager Thomas Frank initially downplayed the issue, further medical assessments revealed a fracture to his lower jaw. The FFF stated that after consultation between France’s team doctor Franck Le Gall and Tottenham’s medical staff, national coach Didier Deschamps agreed to release Kolo Muani from international duty.
In his absence, RC Lens winger Florian Thauvin has been drafted into the squad as a replacement.
Kolo Muani’s withdrawal is a setback for both club and country. The striker, who has scored nine goals in 31 appearances for France, had earned his first recall since June after missing Deschamps’ previous two squads. His recent resurgence at Tottenham had signalled a return to form, making the timing of the injury particularly unfortunate.
France are already dealing with fitness concerns, with Paris Saint-Germain duo Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele also sidelined. Despite the absences, the 2018 World Cup champions remain firmly positioned at the top of Group D, having collected 10 points from four matches.
Les Bleus will host Ukraine at the Parc des Princes on Thursday before travelling to Azerbaijan three days later. A victory over Ukraine would be enough for France to secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup in North America, further underlining the importance of maintaining depth and adaptability within Deschamps’ squad as the campaign progresses.
