Jules Kounde to miss Nations League semis with injury
France defender Jules Kounde has been forced to withdraw from the France squad for the Nations League finals due to a hamstring injury.
The Barcelona defender had been struggling with the issue, which caused him to miss the end of Barcelona's domestic season.
Kounde's absence will be felt by Didier Deschamps' side as they take on Spain in the semi-finals.
The winner of the tie will progress to the final to face either Germany or Portugal.
While missing out on the Nations League finals may be disappointing for Kounde, the injury does provide him with a much-needed break from football.
The defender has played almost constantly for club and country over the last year, reaching 100 consecutive games in April.
Kounde will now have the opportunity to recover fully and take some time out before returning to action with Barcelona in pre-season.
