‘I know that it isn’t over’ – Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta on his France career

‘I know that it isn’t over’ – Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta on his France career Jean-Philippe Mateta (29) has told RMC Sport that his career with the France national team is “not over”. The Crystal Palace forward made Didier Deschamps’ Bleus squad for last summer’s FIFA World Cup but, due to injury, was not part of Zinédine Zidane’s first squad. Mateta was a squad player for France during the World Cup. Whilst he will not be expected to be a starter, he may fear having fallen down the pecking order, given Esteban Lepaul’s call-up in what was Zidane’s first squad as manager of Les Bleus. There could, however, be an opening, with Kylian Mbappé being pushed back out to the left. It is Ousmane Dembélé who is now the go-to option up front, although the Paris Saint-Germain forward struggled for form during the most recent international break. Mateta returns to Crystal Palace first-team training Mateta, however, is hoping to still have his say. “My whole life, I have worked to be in the France national team. I know that it isn’t over. I will do everything to get back in the team. Playing for Zidane? It would be a dream. He is one of the best players in the history of the France national team. It would be a dream, just as it was to play under Didier Deschamps. I will do everything to be called up in November,” said the striker. To do so, he will have to be playing regularly for Pierre Sage’s Crystal Palace side. So far this season, he has played just once due to a hamstring injury that he told RMC Sport was “complex”. Mateta added, “I will be back on the pitch soon. I will finally back with the team tomorrow (Friday) and I will do everything to be in the squad (to face Nottingham Forest).” GFFN | Luke Entwistle