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Jean-Philippe Mateta (29) has told [**RMC Sport**](https://rmcsport.bfmtv.com/football/equipe-de-france/je-sais-que-ce-n-est-pas-fini-mateta-espere-vite-retrouver-l-equipe-de-france_AV-202610080854.html) 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, 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](https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/#google_vignette) | Luke Entwistle