Doubt was allowed, Didier Deschamps lifted it this Friday, November 12. Since the start of the gathering of the France team in Clairefontaine on Monday, Karim Benzema had not participated in any collective session. This Friday, on the eve of the decisive match against Kazakhstan in the race to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, the Real Madrid striker (92 caps, 33 goals) finally trained normally, with his teammates.
In the coldness of the Parc des Princes this Friday at the end of the afternoon, where the Blues will play tomorrow for the first time since 2013 and a match against Australia (6-0), Benzema therefore participated in the session with everything the group. Thursday, the striker of Real had carried out a training of less than an hour, except with the physical trainer of the Blues on the side of Clairefontaine.
“He did not do a collective session and did a very good yesterday away from the group. Having the match tomorrow allowed us not to take any risks. Karim has enough experience to know how to deal with the little problem he had with his club during the last matches.“, explained Didier Deschamps at a press conference.
On the eve of the match against Kazakhstan at the Parc des Princes, the Blues moved closer to the capital by settling in Rueil-Malmaison (92). Take the bus trip from Clairefontaine (78) #ProuddetreBleus pic.twitter.com/u8IL3V3wjv
– France team ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) November 12, 2021
The coach assured him, Karim Benzema “will play tomorrow“, probably as the holder alongside Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappé, who appeared at ease this Friday, as since the start of the week at Clairefontaine. The France team should evolve, as in the last matches, in 3-4-1-2, with some doubts about the identity of the players who will make up the eleven.
Deschamps notably mentioned the possibility of placing Kingsley Coman in the right piston position, in place of Benjamin Pavard, against a team from Kazakhstan which should evolve grouped in front of its goals a good part of the meeting. “It all depends on the opponent. Kingsley is an option that can be good at the start or during the game. With the balance of power, that would require adjustments on the defensive aspect. But it may be an option“, confirmed the coach.
During the closed-door confrontation after the training open to the media on Friday afternoon, Pavard and Coman each took part in a half-time each at the right piston position with the starting team. The Bayern winger could be a real option and spoke at length with Deschamps at the end of training, with the coach giving him instructions on his placement. In central defense, Dayot Upamecano accompanied Lucas Hernandez and Jules Koundé, while Adrien Rabiot took place in the middle with N’Golo Kanté.
The probable composition: Lloris (cap.) – Koundé, Upamecano, Lucas Hernandez – Pavard (or Coman), Kanté, Rabiot, Theo Hernandez – Griezmann – Benzema, Mbappé