Lucas Digne and Kurt Zouma have been named in the French squad for the upcoming matches against Iceland and Germany.
The two defenders carrying varying degrees of international pedigree, but their inclusion is indicative of Everton’s growing status on the world stage.
Digne has received 21 caps for the national side, making his debut against the Netherlands in 2014.
Zouma has played just twice for France, first appearing against Denmark in 2015.
Neither player was named in France’s World Cup winning squad in the summer, although Digne was placed on stand-by.
Both players have made six appearances in all competitions for Everton this season, in what is their first taste of Merseyside football.
The acquisition of the defenders was viewed by many as a commitment to a brighter future by the Everton owners, as they equipped Marco Silva with a strong squad for his primary campaign.
