PARIS, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- Reigning world champions France Thursday handed Lyon midfielder Tanguy Ndombele his first call-up into the squad preparing for two upcoming football matches this month.

France will take on Iceland in a friendly in Guingamp on Oct. 11, and face Germany in UEFA Nations League five days later.

The 21-year-old Ndombele is expected to replace Corentin Tolisso, who is plagued by serious knee injury that could sideline him up to six months.

Mamadou Sakho, playing for Premier League side Crystal Palace, makes his return to the lineup after more than two years. His last appearance for Les Bleus dated back to March 2016.

Other absentees at the World Cup while making into the list are Kurt Zouma and Lucas Digne, both from Premier League club Everton.

Following is France's 23-member list:

Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola (Paris Saint-Germain), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Steve Mandanda (Marseille)

Defenders: Lucas Digne (Everton), Lucas Hernandez (Atletico Madrid), Presnel Kimpembe (Paris Saint-Germain), Benjamin Pavard (Stuttgart), Mamadou Sakho (Crystal Palace), Djibril Sidibe (Monaco), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid), Kurt Zouma (Everton)

Midfielders: N'Golo Kante (Chelsea), Blaise Matuidi (Juventus), Tanguy Ndombele (Lyon), Steven N'Zonzi (Roma), Paul Pogba (Manchester United)

Forwards: Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona), Nabil Fekir (Lyon), Olivier Giroud (Chelsea), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Thomas Lemar (Atletico Madrid), Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain), Florian Thauvin (Marseille)?