The France team will play a match without Antoine Griezmann for the first time since June 2017, a sprained right ankle having forced him to give up the matches against Germany then Chile, the last rehearsals before the Euro.
The record series of consecutive matches played by “Grizou” with the Blues therefore ends at 84 matches. And the vice-captain will miss the big “squad review” by Didier Deschamps, who chose to call Mattéo Guendouzi in his place.
“ After an exchange with Franck Le Gall, the Blues doctor “, the selector “ recorded Antoine Griezmann’s package », Explained the French Football Federation (FFF) in a press release.
“DD”, which says of the attacking midfielder that he is “ not irreplaceable, but essential », has not played without his “favorite” since a friendly match against England in June 2017 (3-2).
The Atlético de Madrid star will not return to Germany on Saturday in Lyon (8 p.m. UT), a team against which he scored a double in the semi-final of Euro-2016 (2-0) – and reduced the score in its only defeat in 2023 in October (2-1).
“Grizou” missed four matches with Atlético before returning for the qualification in the round of 16 of the Champions League against Inter Milan (0-1/2-1 3 tab to 2), scoring a goal.
He came on at half-time in the defeat against Barcelona (3-0) on Sunday evening.
Optimism for Lucas Hernandez and Konaté
“ With Antoine’s qualities in his register, we are not going to find a player who has his characteristics “, explained the coach. “ A replacement position for position is very, very, very difficult to find. We will arrange it differently. »
Guendouzi, who joined Lazio Rome last summer, has not been called up by the Blues since the World Cup at the end of 2022 in Qatar, where he obtained the last of his 7 selections (1 goal) during the final match of the group stage, lost against Tunisia (1-0).
Beyond Griezmann’s package, only a few “boos” disturb the Blues group, according to Deschamps.
Goalkeeper Mike Maignan left after 21 minutes of the Europa League match won at Slavia Prague by AC Milan (3-1), but he played on Sunday in the Italian championship for the victory at Verona (3-1). ).
“ Mike had a little problem at the end of the match with Milan, we’ll see how it develops », noted DD.
Ousmane Dembélé suffered from a punctured eardrum and missed Paris Saint-Germain’s victory on Sunday evening at Montpellier (6-2), but he was in training Monday evening at Clairefontaine.
Deschamps was also optimistic for Adrien Rabiot (Juventus Turin), Lucas Hernandez (Paris SG) and Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool): “ Adrien shouldn’t have any worries, ”Ibou” either “,he said.
Konaté has not played any of the last three matches for the “Reds”, beaten on Sunday in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup at Manchester United (4-3 ap).
The central defender had already missed the September and November meetings due to injury.
“‘‘Ibou’ had a few glitches, he came out of a season where he played a lot » estimated Deschamps. Konaté seemed very comfortable in the tennis ball at the end of training on Monday evening.
Lucas Hernandez has a little “feeling” but “ which does not seem to pose a problem today (Monday),” said the coach. The Parisian defender came out during the break in the match won in Montpellier (6-2).
“ Involve as many players as possible »
For his final “workforce review” before the list of players selected for the Euro (June 14 – July 14 in Germany), which will be revealed in mid-May, Deschamps wants “ involve as many players as possible “. The objective, he says, is to anticipate what may happen in May or June because “we are never safe” from injuries.
“ We’re not here to try things, we know the players “, he clarified. He did not call any beginners for this gathering, denying the insistent rumor which had developed around the young Parisian striker Bradley Barcola.
“ The advantage is having a full week to prepare for the match against Germany », before the one against Chile, next Tuesday (8 p.m. UT) in Marseille, he added.
“ If you want to know after these two matches who will start the first match of the Euro, I will let you think, debate », joked the coach.
Barring surprises or injuries, for the starting lineup on June 17 in Düsseldorf against Austria, the competition is limited to the right-back positions, between Jonathan Clauss and Jules Koundé, and center forward, with Olivier Giroud, Randal Kolo Muani and Marcus Thuram, even captain Kylian Mbappé, more on the left.
We should see on Saturday against Germany the team closest to the starting eleven at the Euro, with the notable exception of Griezmann…