France's midfielder Yohan Cabaye, green shirt, runs on the field during a training session of the French national soccer team at the Santa Cruz Stadium in Ribeirao Preto, Brazil, Wednesday, June 11, 2014. France will face Ecuador, Switzerland and Honduras in group E of the 2014 Soccer World Cup. (AP Photo/David Vincent) (The Associated Press)
RIBEIRAO PRETO, Brazil – France coach Didier Deschamps has freshened up his World Cup squad with some new faces as he keeps one eye on the future.
Young wingers Antoine Griezmann and Remy Cabella hope to get their chance to shine in France's attack, while Morgan Schneiderlin offers some welcome cover in midfield.
Even if they don't play much in Brazil, they'll have picked up valuable experience ahead of the European Championship on home soil in 2016.
When winger Franck Ribery and midfielder Clement Grenier were ruled out of the World Cup at the last minute because of injuries, Cabella and Schneiderlin got an unexpected opening.
They were on the standby list and had almost no international experience, save for Cabella's brief substitute appearance in the 4-0 win against Norway two weeks ago.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.