France on Friday included world champion Florian Thauvin and veteran André-Pierre Gignac, both forwards, on the roster for the Tokyo Olympics soccer tournament. Sylvain Ripoll, the French Olympic coach, also selected 18-year-old Rennes midfielder Eduardo Camavinga and Arsenal defender William Saliba, who was on loan to Nice last season.
The 16 men's soccer teams at the Tokyo Olympics can select three players of legal age from their rosters. Thauvin is 28 years old and Gignac 35. Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany and Spain participate in the tournament. Men's soccer kicks off before the opening ceremony on July 23 in Tokyo. France plays Mexico on July 22.
The 18-player roster does not include Kylian Mbappé, who currently plays the Eurocup with France, who qualified for the round of 16. The Paris Saint-Germain star said he would like to play in both the Eurocup and the Tokyo Games. Thauvin was part of the French team that won the 2018 World Cup. The winger left Marseille to join the Mexican club Tigres, where Gignac plays. The third-largest player is 29-year-old Montpellier midfielder Teji Savanier.
France's list for the Games
GOALKEEPERS: Paul Bernardoni (Angers), Gautier Larsonneur (Brest). Defenders: Benoit Badiashile (Monaco), Anthony Caci (Strasbourg), Pierre Kalulu (Milan), Clement Michelin (Lens), William Saliba (Arsenal), Malang Sarr (Chelsea)
MIDFIELDERS: Eduardo Camavinga (Rennes), Maxence Caqueret (Lyon), Jonathan Ikoné (Lille), Teji Savanier (Montpellier), Florian Thauvin (Tigres), Lucas Tousart (Hertha Berlin)
FORWARDS: André-Pierre Gignac (Tigers), Amine Gouiri (Nice), Randal Kolo Muani (Nantes), Arnaud Nordin (Saint-Étienne)