In the central circle of the lawn of the Stade de France, at the final whistle of the victory of France against Austria (2-0), Randal Kolo Muani is all smiles. The 23-year-old French striker did not touch a single ball after entering the game in added time, but he had his first selection with the Blues. Like him, several players took advantage of the current context to discover or find the France team, Thursday, September 22, against Austria.
Everyone, from Benoît Badiashile to Kolo Muani via Youssouf Fofana, knows that they owe their place in part to the cascade of injuries in the French ranks: Hugo Lloris, Lucas and Théo Hernandez, Presnel Kimpembe, Ibrahima Konaté, Lucas Digne, Adrien Rabiot, Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kanté, Boubacar Kamara, Kingsley Coman, Karim Benzema.
Injuries to which are now added Mike Maignan and Jules Koundé, released during the match yesterday and unavailable next Sunday against Denmark. But the strength of the Blues is to be able to turn around in such a situation, taking advantage of its exceptional pool.
On Thursday, the strong men against Austria were mostly newcomers. Having young people is good, but having them able to develop immediately at a high level is better. This was the case in March and June with Mattéo Guendouzi, Christopher Nkunku or Jonathan Clauss, and Thursday with very good Benoît Badiashile and Youssouf Fofana. “They exude a lot of serenity, confidence. Some had more complicated beginnings for their first selection”, also welcomed Didier Deschamps after the meeting.
2013 – 2 field players will start for their 1st match in the France team against Austria (Badiashile, Fofana), a 1st since the Pogba-Varane duo against Georgia in March 2013. Discovery. #FRAAUT https://t.co/9yRr82RlwZ
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) September 22, 2022
Whether Badiashile knows that in his post the immediate future is blocked with Lucas Hernandez and Presnel Kimpembe, Fofana can on the other hand hope to slip into the list for the World Cup, his profile being complementary to that of Aurélien Tchouameni. The latter is the perfect example of new internationals who have been able to seize their chance for a year, after Euro 2021. Faced with their lack of experience at a very high level, Deschamps does not hesitate to establish them. “In order for them to have experience, you have to put them on the pitch. If it goes badly, it’s for me. There is the potential and when they are well supported by the elders, it can work “, admitted the coach.
In addition to young people, the France team also has ghosts. Olivier Giroud, back for the first time with the Blues since March, passer then scorer against Austria, convinced. “May he continue to perform well”, launched Deschamps, aware of the ovation of the Stade de France at the exit of the AC Milan striker, but which leaves no clue as to the presence or not of this one in the list for the World Cup.
Among the other ghosts, Ferland Mendy seemed a step below. At the end of the match, Didier Deschamps took a few seconds to discuss tactics with him, while the side’s teammates greeted the public. “Kylian often came to position himself in front of Ferland in the left lane”, clarified Deschamps to explain the lack of offensive contribution from Mendy.
Despite this discreet match, the latter will have the opportunity to catch up against Denmark, in order to try to get a ticket to Doha in November, to the detriment of Lucas Digne. The question will also arise for Ousmane Dembélé, absent from the lists of the Blues since Euro 2021, and who only played ten minutes on Thursday evening. In great shape with FC Barcelona at the start of the season, the striker with 28 caps is a natural candidate for the World Cup.
And again, Didier Deschamps did not call on Mattéo Guendouzi, Jordan Veretout, Dayot Upamecano or Eduardo Camavinga … who remained on the bench. So many options available for a Deschamps who certainly does not know where to turn. Rich problems, which some breeders would dream of having.
This is also the case of Ralf Rangnick, the Austrian technician, who did not say anything else Thursday evening at a press conference: “[Ce résultat] is not such a big surprise when you see the French team lined up today. I was asked if their absences were an advantage … When we see their reserve … Everyone in the French eleven would start in our team”. But not everyone will be with the Blues.