Florian Thauvin could make sensational France return six years after last call up amid revival at Lens

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Florian Thauvin's impressive revival at Lens has earned him a pre-call-up to the French national team for the first time in over six years. The 2018 World Cup winner, who believes he is now a "much more complete" player, is in contention for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers after a journeyman career path.

Thauvin is back?

According to a report from RMC Sport, the 32-year-old is in contention for Didier Deschamps' final list for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Iceland after a remarkable career revival. He has been named on Deschamps' list as the coach has drawn up a provisional squad.

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Thauvin's impressive form sparks recall

Since returning to Ligue 1 with Lens this summer after spells in Mexico and Italy, Thauvin has been in excellent form. The attacker has scored two goals in his first six league appearances and produced a standout man-of-the-match performance in a recent 0-0 draw with Rennes, where his side played for 93 minutes with 10 men. His creativity and leadership in that match particularly caught the eye, underlining his successful reintegration into French football.

'I'm much more complete now' - Thauvin on his evolution

The player himself believes he is better now than during his peak at Marseille, which earned him his spot in the 2018 World Cup squad. "I've never felt better," Thauvin said. "I think the best season of my career was 2018, but now I consider myself stronger. Back then, I was a young player, efficient, good at finishing, but perhaps a little too individualistic. Now, I have a much more collective vision... I'm much more complete."

World Cup dream fuels comeback ambition

A return to the national setup would cap a sensational comeback for Thauvin, whose last of 10 caps came on June 11, 2019. The forward confirmed his desire to represent his country again, with the 2026 World Cup on his mind. "When you work, you put a lot of things in place every day, and when you perform well, you want to dream. It's something you have to earn," he stated.

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What next for Thauvin?

All eyes will now be on Deschamps, who is set to announce his final squad on Thursday afternoon. Should Thauvin make the cut, he will join Les Bleus for the qualifiers at home to Azerbaijan on October 10 and away in Iceland on October 13. A successful international return would put him firmly in contention for future squads, provided he can maintain his high performance level for Lens.