Newcastle United winger Allan Saint-Maximin has revealed he is extremely keen on making France’s squad for the 2026 World Cup, after injuries this season meant he missed out on a place in Didier Deschamps’ squad in Qatar.
Saint-Maximin featured in the League Cup against Bournemouth on Tuesday with an impressive performance as Eddie Howe’s Magpies won 1-0.
Still just 25, the former Nice man believes now is the time to start staking his claim, especially with Olivier Giroud likely to step down from the national team, with the AC Milan striker 36 years of age.
“Playing for France would mean everything to me,” said Saint-Maximin.
📊🔴 The top 3 players who have the most successful dribbles in the five major European Leagues:
🥇 Saint Maximin 🇫🇷 – 140 dribbles
🥈 Mbappé 🇫🇷 – 103 dribbles
🥉 Vinicius 🇧🇷 – 101 dribblesHe only started 4 games this season
👀#NUFC pic.twitter.com/KMGIvdAna8— NUFCTalk 🥇 (@Newcastle_FC) December 22, 2022
“I hope that one day I have the chance to show my qualities for Les Bleus. Of course, it will not be easy. Everyone saw the character of the players in the World Cup final and it is a team full of talent.
“But if I keep working hard and playing well for Newcastle, I hope to get noticed.”
READ MORE: James Maddison spotted at the World Darts Championships and confesses his love for the sport
The tricky winger is yet to represent his country at senior level, appearing 32 times across the youth levels from Under 16 to 21 and he believes he still has the chance to make it at the highest level for Les Bleus.
“I really don’t know how close I am to selection.
“There was talk of a call-up earlier this season but I came back from injury just two weeks before the World Cup started, which was not good enough to break into the squad.
“I do believe I am good enough to play with friends in the national team.”
With this attitude, Saint-Maximin has all the chances in the world to make it into the 2026 squad and the hard work starts now, with the Magpies travelling to the King Power on boxing Day to take on Leicester City.