#INSERT type:image caption:Kurzawa was criticised for his reaction to scoring against Sweden -- a game the French Under-21 side lost late on. END#
France coach Didier Deschamps has backtracked on his decision not to pick under-21 players for the friendlies against Albania and Sweden, calling up Layvin Kurzawa to replace Benoit Tremoulinas.
Deschamps said he had deliberately opted not to pick U-21 squad members after their dramatic late defeat to Sweden in a playoff for a place at the 2015 UEFA European U-21 Championship.
Monaco left-back Kurzawa was criticised for taunting the Swedes as he celebrated the late goal that appeared to have won the French a place in the finals -- only for Sweden to strike again seconds from full-time.
However, with Sevilla full-back Tremoulinas forced to withdraw with a toe injury, Deschamps has called Kurzawa up for the senior squad for the first time rather than opting for a tried and tested option such as Manchester City's Gael Clichy.
Asked last week why he had not picked any members of the U-21 squad for the friendlies, Deschamps said: "Today, I feel that I have no desire to promote a player of that generation because of what happened less than a month ago with their elimination from the European Championship. That is why I made that decision."
The coach made another late change to his squad when Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Blaise Matuidi suffered a hand injury in the 2-0 win over Marseille and was replaced by Lyon captain Maxime Gonalons.