Rayan Cherki’s ultimatum worked! The French media for days wrote about Lyon’s forward’s wish to play for Algeria or Italy – his father has Algerian-Italian roots, while his mother is of Algerian descent – since the country he was born in, France, obviously didn’t want him.Only a few days later, Les Blues boss Didier Deschamps included him in the 23-player squad that will face Spain in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals on June 5.📋 LA LISTE POUR LE FINAL 4 ! 🔥Voici les 25 Bleus convoqués pour le dernier carré de la Ligue des Nations, avec des nouveaux visages, et des retours 😄💙05/06 : Demi-finale 🆚 Espagne 🇪🇸 08/06 : Finale ou petite finale 🆚 Allemagne 🇩🇪 ou Portugal 🇵🇹#FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/mDHooD8tXL— Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) May 21, 2025 Whether Cherki’s “warning” affected the gaffer’s decision is vague, though the 56-year-old rejected such claims.”Rayan could have been here in March, given what he has achieved with his club. He has been so decisive in terms of his goals and his assists,” Deschamps said in the press conference earlier today via France 24.Cherki shone in Lyon’s jersey this season, noting 12 goals and 20 assists in 44 appearances this season, and many were surprised that Deschamps had been overlooking him for so long.La réaction de Rayan Cherki sur sa première sélection en Équipe de France. 🇫🇷😁🎥 @OL pic.twitter.com/q8BpUKIzbD— Actu Foot (@ActuFoot_) May 21, 2025 Yet, once the forward threatened to join the Desert Foxes or the Azzurri, the strategist apparently changed his mind. Still, Deschamps stated his reasons for calling up Cherki were team needs and not preventing him from choosing some other national team.Ligue 1 recap: Good old PSG, late drama and 99th-minute penalty that changed so many things”I’ve never blocked a player or prevented him from making a choice. When I bring them in, it’s for our needs, not to prevent them from doing something else. I have never tried that on since I became coach,” the Frenchman said.Nevertheless, until the 21-year-old born in Lyon debuts for the senior crew – he’s already played for the French U-16, U-19, U-21, and Olympic teams – he’ll be able to reconsider his decision. Once he makes the maiden appearance with the Blues, his allegiance will lie with Les Blues.FRANCE SQUADGoalkeepers: Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Brice Samba (Rennes), Lucas Chevalier (Lille)Defenders: Loic Bade (Sevilla), Lucas Digne (Aston Villa), Lucas Hernandez (PSG), Pierre Kalulu (Juventus), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), Clement Lenglet (Atletico Madrid), Benjamin Pavard (Inter Milan)Midfielders: Matteo Guendouzi (Lazio), Manu Kone (Roma), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid), Warren Zaire-Emery (PSG)Forwards: Bradley Barcola (PSG), Rayan Cherki (Lyon), Ousmane Dembele (PSG), Desire Doue (PSG), Randal Kolo Muani (Juventus), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan)##NAJAVA_MECA_8939361##
