PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain defender Layvin Kurzawa has pulled out of France's squad for its upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Bulgaria and Belarus.
He was replaced by the uncapped Jordan Amavi, who plays for Marseille.
The French football federation (FFF) said on Wednesday that Kurzawa sprained a ligament in his left knee during Monday's training session at France's training ground outside Paris.
The FFF said that "despite two days of intensive care, his condition does not allow him to be ready for the two upcoming international matches."
France tops Group A and leads Sweden by a point. The Netherlands is in third place, four points off the pace. The French are away to Bulgaria on Oct. 7 and then host Belarus on Oct. 10.
Only the group winners qualify automatically for next year's tournament in Russia.