Deschamps’ list: Samba, Fofana… and two Thurams! The 23 unveiled – LIVE

15:35 – End of live

END OF LIVE. Didier Deschamps has selected 23 players for the qualifying matches for Euro 2024 against the Netherlands and Ireland on March 24 and 27. The coach therefore called three new players (Khephren Thuram, Brice Samba and Wesley Fofana). He also recalled Olivier Giroud and Benjamin Pavard. Mike Maignan will unsurprisingly be the number 1 goalkeeper in the cages. Edouardo Camavinga will be “considered a left-back”. the Madrid midfielder will not play in his usual position. Matteo Guendouzi and Axel Disasi were not called. The coach did not reserve any other surprises. We will find well in Clairefontaine Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, Kinglsey Coman, Adrien Rabiot, or even Randal Kolo Muani. The question of the captaincy was not elucidated at a press conference in the same way as the Karim Benzema affair. Didier Deschamps ousted the subject which he considered to be “closed”. He was also asked about Corinne Deacon and Noël Le Graët and said he was “adapting” to the new presidency that Philippe Diallo is seeking.

15:21 – Chelsea applaud Fofana

Wesley Fofana will also honor his first selection with the French football team. His club Chelsea posted a congratulatory message about him.

15:17 – Deschamps paid tribute to Claude Simonet

Before starting the press conference Didier Deschamps also wanted to come back to the death of Claude Simonet. He was the first president of the French football federation to lift the World Cup in 1998. The current coach of the Blues had rubbed shoulders with him at that time, because he was the captain of this victorious France. He had “a moved and sincere thought for Claude Simonet, his friends and his family. He was a great leader of French football.”

15:13 – Giroud still there

“Like everyone else, they are supposed to be able to start. Olivier has a long experience. As long as he maintains his level of performance with his club and remains eligible for selection, he is there. We have two games in three days against to a team that will not play three days before. He is the age he is, he is not young, he can be a starter as he can be brought, as in his club, to turn “, mentioned Didier Deschamps in press conference concerning Olivier Giroud.

15:09 – Simakan, Koné, Chevalier, Meslier will have to wait

With international retirements, there are plenty of other players who could claim places in the France A team. This is the case of Illan Meslier or Lucas Chevalier as goalkeeper. Simakan also had arguments to make in defense while Koné could have been a big surprise in the middle. These young players will still have to wait before they can hope to represent the France team in the first team. They were nevertheless called by the coach of the hopes, Sylvain Ripoll.

15:05 – Guendouzi and Disasi absent

With new players, there are bound to be people left out. Olympian Matteo Guendouzi loses his place in Deschamps’ hierarchy. The Marseille midfielder is not on the coach’s new list in the same way as Axel Disasi. Wesley Fofana was indeed preferred to the Monegasque.

14:59 – Three newcomers to the Blues

In the list of 23 which has been unveiled, three new players will discover the jersey of the France team. One is playing as a goalkeeper. This is Brice Samba. The second is defender, Wesley Fofana and the last is midfielder, Khephren Thuram.

• Brice Samba: RC Lens
• Wesley Fofana :Chelsea
• Chephren Thuram: Nice

14:55 – Khephren Thuram also put forward by OGC Nice

Le Gym, like Lens, showed its pride in seeing one of its internationals called up with the A’s for the France team.

14:52 – RC Lens congratulates Samba

Brice Samba was called up to the France team for the first time and his club RC Lens wanted to congratulate him by posting a video on social networks. This is the second time in two years that the northern club has sent a player from its team to the France team. Last year, Jonathan Clauss was honored.

2:49 p.m. – Pavard is present in the list of 23

Benjamin Pavard’s recent performances with Bayern Munich convinced the coach of the Blues who recalled the player. However, it was not won. The Bavarian and Didier Deschamps did not have, a priori, an ideal relationship lately.

2:44 p.m. – The press conference is over

The press conference ended. Didier Deschamps has therefore called up 23 players who will play two matches against the Netherlands and Ireland on March 24 and 27.

2:40 p.m. – “I’m not going to say more”, Deschamps on Deacon

“You spare me nothing for the start of the school year”, annoyed the coach of the Blues. The form (in which she was issued from her functions) bothers me. I won’t say more. But you will have understood me, replied Didier Deschamps snidely when a question was put to him about Corinne Deacon. The coach will therefore have addressed all the themes at a press conference.

14:37 – “I adapt”, says Deschamps regarding the Graët

“I’m not apprehensive, but the key word is I adapt. I have exchanges that can be different. We have a common interest, the France team is doing well. It won’t be the same things, but these are things that happen in the club and in the selection”, commented Didier Deschamps about the former president of the FFF Noël Le Graët.

2:34 p.m. – “I consider Edouardo as a left-back”, Deschamps

Edouardo Camavinga was called up unsurprisingly, of course, but Didier Deschamps selected him considering that the Real Madrid midfielder was going to play as a left-back.

14:29 – 2nd sibling in 25 years in the jersey of the Blues

Recently there had been the Hernandez brothers who were selected at the same time. The Thuram siblings are the second in 25 years to be reunited with the Blues. The coach added: ‘they have a strong family bond’.