West Ham United goalkeeper Alphonse Areola had hoped to stake his claim as France’s first choice goalkeeper for their upcoming matches against Netherlands and Republic of Ireland.
The 30-year-old Hammers stopper has been a back-up option for club and country in recent years, but after the international retirement of Tottenham Hotspur captain and ex-France skipper Hugo Lloris, an opportunity opened itself up for Areola to become France’s first-choice stopper.
The potential national team opportunity also came at a time where West Ham's first-choice goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski suffered a fractured cheekbone and eye-socket injury, which has given Areola his first two league starts of the season, although neither have ended in victory.
