Jean Butez had watched the France squad announcement from home on Friday evening, hoping his name might finally arrive. It did not. Two days later, the Como goalkeeper received the call that will take him to Clairefontaine for the first time, a late opening that rewards a career built patiently away from the usual spotlight.
The move
Butez, 31, has been summoned by France after Robin Risser was ruled out of the forthcoming camp. The RC Lens goalkeeper is not fit enough to join the group for a run of four France matches in 11 days, following discussions between the national-team medical staff and Lens.
The Lille-born goalkeeper will replace Risser in Zinédine Zidane’s squad and is set for his senior international debut. At 31 years and three months, Butez becomes France’s oldest first-time call-up since Gérard Farison, who was 32 years and one month old when selected in 1976.
His route to this moment has not been straightforward. Butez had begun to feel an international opportunity might be possible from March onwards, but Lucas Chevalier was selected for the United States tour and Risser later earned his place for the World Cup. Butez was included in Zidane’s initial pre-selection group, yet Guillaume Restes was preferred when the coach named his first squad on Friday.
The injury-enforced change has now given Butez his chance. He will report to the national training centre carrying the experience of a goalkeeper who has made himself a major figure in Italy.
- Jean Butez — Como goalkeeper, called up as Risser’s replacement.
- Robin Risser — RC Lens goalkeeper, unavailable for the France camp through physical issues.
- Lucas Chevalier — previously selected for France’s tour of the United States.
- Guillaume Restes — chosen in Zidane’s original squad ahead of Butez.
- Willian Pacho — Paris Saint-Germain defender and Butez’s former teammate at Royal Antwerp.
The French season around it
Risser’s withdrawal removes a Ligue 1 goalkeeper from the France gathering, while Butez’s promotion is another reminder that France’s pool extends beyond its domestic competition. Lens had been close to signing him before he instead chose Como in January 2025, ending a four-and-a-half-year spell at Royal Antwerp.
That decision altered the course of his career. Butez has helped Como reach the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history and has established himself among the more highly regarded goalkeepers in Serie A.
He has developed a reputation for playing from the back, stepping high in his area to anticipate threats and joining his side’s build-up. Butez has said he would have enjoyed being an outfield player, an instinct reflected in his comfort with the ball at his feet.
The Frenchman believes the move to Italy took him up another level. He has credited Como’s goalkeeping work for its wide focus, including video analysis, tactical preparation and nutrition, while also stressing the personal work he has undertaken since arriving.
Former France goalkeeping coach Franck Raviot had tracked Butez for a long period, attention that sometimes weighed on him. The call-up comes after he kept working through those expectations rather than allowing them to define him.
A late first step
Butez’s life away from football is rooted in family. He lives between Como, Milan and Merris in northern France, where his family remains based. He and his wife have two children, with a third on the way.
A fan of cycling, racket sports and motorsport, he also enjoys coffee and has developed an interest in wine. The goalkeeper’s first France camp arrives later than he once might have imagined, but it comes with the calm of a player who has kept believing in the opening.
