LIST 23 DESCHAMPS. New package for the France team with the absence of Benjamin Pavard, replaced by William Saliba.
Positive for Covid since Thursday, Bayern Munich player Benjamin Pavard is forced to forfeit the next two friendly matches for the French team against Côte d’Ivoire and South Africa. To make up for his absence, Didier Deschamps has decided to call Olympique de Marseille defender William Saliba for the very first time.
In addition, injured for a few days, Karim Benzema was also forced to forfeit the gathering of the Blues and leaves his place to Olivier Giroud who finds the France team several months after the fiasco of the Euro. In a press conference Didier Deschamps explained that he knew what “Olivier was capable of”. “His situation has nothing to do with his chances of becoming Italian champion or not, explained the French coach at a press conference. He scores goals and that’s good for his club. Afterwards, I choices to be made.”
For this gathering, Didier Deschamps also called two newcomers with Jonathan Clauss and Christopher Nkunku, but deprived himself of Ousmane Dembélé, impressive with Barça during the Catalans’ victory against Real this Sunday, March 20.
Here is Didier Deschamps’ latest list to face South Africa and Ivory Coast at the end of March.
- Guardians : Alphonse Areola, Mike Maignan, Hugo Lloris.
- Defenders : Lucas Digne, Jonathan Clauss, Lucas Hernandez, Théo Hernandez, Presnel Kimpembe, Jules Koundé, William Saliba, Raphael Varane.
- Environments : Matteo Guendouzi, N’Golo Kante, Paul Pogba, Adrien Rabiot, Aurélien Tchouameni.
- Attackers : Wissam Ben Yedder, Olivier Giroud, Kingsley Coman, Moussa Diaby, Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappé, Christopher Nkunku.
Any surprises in the list of 23?
Like all Didier Deschamps lists, surprises, returns… Are often scrutinized. For this new gathering of the France team, the coach has concocted several with the presence of the right side of RC Lens Jonathan Clauss or the striker of RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, Christopher Nkunku.