Three novices, including Khéphren Thuram and Wesley Fofana received this Thursday, March 16 their first summons to the France team for the March rally, alongside Olivier Giroud, recalled at the age of 36 by coach Didier Deschamps. For the first time, goalkeeper Brice Samba was also called up.
New dean of the selection since the international retirement of Steve Mandanda, Olivier Giroud is a good part of it, alongside Kylian Mbappé and Antoine Griezmann, basic attackers of Deschamps’ standard team. No newcomer is to be reported in attack, where Moussa Diaby (Leverkusen) is making his return. Three other Bundesliga strikers are present: Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Randal Kolo Muani (Frankfurt) and Marcus Thuram (Mönchengladbach).
Injuries – current or recent – have left several executives on the floor (Lucas Hernandez, Ousmane Dembélé, Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kanté, Ferland Mendy, Christopher Nkunku…), which allowed the coach to inject new blood for this first post-World stage.
” The group, due to the stoppage of the international career of several players, would have been rejuvenated, with less experience, but always in a sporting logic. “, declared Didier Deschamps during a press conference. ” In my mind, there is always to prepare for the medium term, so it means seeing players in the group and on the field, to have answers for the future while maintaining competitiveness, because we will be in tough everything right now “, he added.
Mbappé future captain?
Fofana (Chelsea, 22) joins a rejuvenated defense, which still includes Benjamin Pavard (Bayern) despite his downgrading during the World Cup. In the middle, Khéphren Thuram, 21, is called: the one who sparkles in Nice joins his eldest Marcus (a striker) in selection.
As goalkeeper, behind the new N.1 Mike Maignan, Deschamps trusted Alphonse Areola again and summoned Samba for the first time. The Lens doorman, 28, is preferred to Nantes player Alban Lafont, called up without playing in September 2022.
Regarding the future captain of the France team, the coach indicated that he had not yet made his choice: There are some that I consider possible, obviously Kylian is one of them “. ” This will go through discussions with them before I make my decision. », according to Didier Deschamps, because « there is a responsibility in relation to being a captain, with somewhat greater obligations “.
The Blues face the Netherlands on March 24 in Saint-Denis and will challenge Ireland on the 27th.
(With AFP)
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— French team ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) March 16, 2023
France team: Benzema, “a closed subject” for Deschamps
“It’s a closed topic, behind, I’m not going to comment on anything again “, tried to evacuate coach Didier Deschamps on Thursday, criticized by Karim Benzema for the management of his package at the World Cup. ” It is a topic that interests you and which can lead to debates and polemics. Very quietly, I had to express myself to say what had happened. It’s a closed topic, behind, I’m not going to comment anything again “Commented Deschamps on the sidelines of his list announcement for the start of qualifying for Euro 2024. Relaunched, the coach tried to close the debate. ” Disturbances, we have known them, there have always been some. You won’t get another word from me. I took the floor to say what had happened. Today, it’s behind, nothing will make me talk about this subject again “. On Instagram, Benzema had published a screenshot with remarks from Deschamps’ interview, adding the phrase ” But what audacity embellished with a clown emoticon. He also shared the video of a French snapchatter, Ritchie, repeating the word “ liar, you are a liar “. Above this excerpt, the striker wrote: “Sacré Didier … Good night. »