Océane Hurtré’s route to the France squad has run through Birmingham rather than the usual established corridor. After helping the English club climb from the second tier and making a fast start to the new campaign, the former Paris Saint-Germain player is set for a first senior call-up when France meet Latvia in Laval on 10 October.
Hurtré rewarded for Birmingham form
France coach Laurent Bonadei has added Hurtré as the sole new face in his 23-player group, having tracked the midfielder for the past two years.
Hurtré made only limited appearances for PSG before choosing a move to Birmingham, a decision Bonadei described as a bold one. She completed a full season there, contributed to promotion, and has begun the current season with four goals and one assist.
- Hurtré previously featured with France’s under-23 side.
- She impressed when the under-23s played a training match against the senior team.
- Bonadei believes she is progressing strongly and has earned an opportunity at senior level.
- The Latvia fixture in Laval could bring her first appearance for Les Bleues.
Three absences managed with World Cup in mind
Elisa De Almeida, Delphine Cascarino and Oriane Jean-François have not been selected, with Bonadei unwilling to take unnecessary medical risks now that France have already qualified for the 2027 World Cup.
- De Almeida sustained a quadriceps injury after joining Arsenal. She is due to resume work with her club this week, but the October gathering came too soon.
- Jean-François is recovering from a knee issue and remains in the rehabilitation phase.
- Cascarino played 45 minutes on Wednesday after missing matches, but has a recurring pubalgia problem. Bonadei said she needs rest to reduce the inflammation.
The coach said he had spoken directly with Cascarino and stressed that protecting players’ fitness is the priority. France’s World Cup campaign will run from 24 June to 25 July 2027.
A squad split between France and Europe
Bonadei said his group includes 12 players based in France and 11 playing abroad, with England hosting a significant share of those overseas internationals.
He sees value in players testing themselves outside France, while insisting that each move must suit an individual’s development and need for minutes.
- Lou Bogaert has joined Wolfsburg, where competition for places is intense.
- Alice Sombath moved in search of more regular playing time.
- Naomie Feller is now at PSG.
- Salma Paralluelo and Caroline Weir have signed for Lyon.
Bonadei believes the French league remains attractive, particularly for younger players able to secure meaningful game time at home. His aim is to strike the right balance between club development and performances for the national side.
Limited experimentation before 2027
With only Latvia on the programme in October, Bonadei has kept the squad to 23 and does not intend to use the window for broad experimentation. He hopes to give every selected player minutes.
The next November-December camp will include three matches, offering a wider opportunity to assess options. Bonadei plans to call up more players then, but the larger objective remains building towards the World Cup rather than constantly reshaping the group.
