Marcus Thuram Out of France Squad, Kroupi Called Up
Listen to the story
French forward Marcus Thuram has pulled out of the France national team's next gathering. He suffered an injury to his right hamstring, the muscle at the back of the thigh. Because of this injury, he is unable to join his teammates for training and matches.
To replace him, the France coaching staff has called up Éli Junior Kroupi. He is a young player who has been attracting attention for his performances. Several reports suggest that fans and pundits believe it was already time for him to join the senior squad.
The France national team is currently led by head coach Zinédine Zidane, a former player who is widely considered one of the greatest French footballers in history. Zidane now has the job of building a strong squad for upcoming matches.
Thuram's withdrawal means one less experienced forward is available. However, bringing in a younger player like Kroupi could give the team fresh energy. Sports site L'Équipe has reported that Kroupi's call-up is seen by many as an obvious and deserved decision.
It is not yet clear how long Thuram will need to recover from his hamstring problem. Injuries of this type can sometimes keep players out for several weeks, though no exact timeline has been given in these reports.
For now, attention turns to Kroupi, who will get the chance to train and potentially play with the senior France squad for the first time in this gathering.
Vocabulary5 words
- gathering
- when a group meets together
- hamstring
- a muscle at the back of your upper leg
- withdrawal
- leaving or pulling out of something
- call-up
- being chosen to join a team
- timeline
- a plan of when things will happen
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Quiz
Answer key
1. A hamstring injury 2. Éli Junior Kroupi 3. As an obvious and deserved decision
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
French forward Marcus Thuram has pulled out of the France national team's next _____.
He suffered an injury to his right _____.
To replace him, the France coaching staff has called up Éli Junior _____.
Several reports suggest that fans and pundits believe it was already time for him to join the senior _____.
The France national team is currently led by head coach Zinédine _____.
Thuram's _____ means one less experienced forward is available.
Sports site L'Équipe has reported that Kroupi's _____ is seen by many as an obvious and deserved decision.
It is not yet clear how long Thuram will need to recover from his hamstring _____.
No exact _____ has been given in these reports.
Discussion questions
- Why do national teams often need to replace injured players?
- Do you think giving young players a chance, like Kroupi, is important for a team's future?
- How might an injury like a hamstring strain affect a player's season?
- What qualities do you think a national team coach looks for when choosing new players?
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