Less than two months before unveiling the list for the Euro in Germany, it seems that 19 players are already almost certain to be called up.
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Return your copies, the tests are over. Victorious against Chile (3-2), Tuesday March 26, the France team completed its last rally before the announcement of the list for Euro 2024, scheduled for May 16. The results and the manner were not reassuring, but we should not wait until this year to build certainty. Following the success of the 2022 World Cup, the generational transition was successful last year. The Blues are expected to be among the favorites.
According to article 48 of the UEFA regulations, Didier Deschamps will have to submit a list of 23 players for the tournament, and no longer 26. The ceiling has returned to normal after an exceptional exceedance caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Most coaches will have to make difficult choices, but “DD” displayed great serenity after this last test session. “I have additional answers. There were no uncertainties before, I’m not going to have any more now.”he explained at a press conference Tuesday evening.
19 players certain to be called up barring disaster
At the moment T, 50 days from the list, we can move forward without taking too many risks to say that 18 names are already checked. The trio of goalkeepers Mike Maignan-Brice Samba-Alphonse Aréola will be there. In defense, even if Didier Deschamps has tested 10 different hinges over the last 10 matches, he has always made it known that he has a preference for the Dayot Upamecano-Ibrahima Konaté duo. The versatility of Benjamin Pavard and Jules Koundé, capable of playing in the center as well as on the right side, pleases him. The two Hernandez brothers seem unstoppable at left-back.
In the middle, the trio composed of Aurélien Tchouameni, Adrien Rabiot and Antoine Griezmann is indisputable. Youssouf Fofana definitely earned his place with his very good performance against Chile. Eduardo Camavinga is an obvious choice, even if he was injured on Tuesday. Finally, in attack, Kylian Mbappé, Olivier Giroud and Ousmane Dembélé are part of the team’s executives. Marcus Thuram, in full swing with Inter, is versatile and has never left Deschamps’ lists since the World Cup. Also brilliant against Chile, Randal Kolo Muani honored the trust placed in him by his coach despite the criticism aimed at him for his performance at PSG.
Behind these 19 names, two have taken a good lead in their position: William Saliba, in central defense (a hyper-competitive sector in the French team), and the nugget Warren Zaire-Emery, whom Didier Deschamps started against the Germany.
In attack, still a doubt around Kingsley Coman
Victim of a cracked knee ligament at the end of January, Kingsley Coman has been absent from the football fields for two months. The Bayern Munich winger was injured while scoring points in his duel with Ousmane Dembélé for a starting place on the right flank. Like his competitor, he always kept the confidence of Deschamps despite a low statistical performance (8 goals in 55 caps).
While he has just returned to training, if he is fit and his coach decides to opt for the same distribution as his last list by including Antoine Griezmann in his six midfielders, Kingsley Coman has a very good chance to be present. Otherwise, three players will have a say in replacing him. Moussa Diaby was called to this effect during this gathering. Appreciated by Deschamps, Christopher Nkunku has a series of injuries. The surprise could come from Parisian Bradley Barcola, whom he has never called yet.
Jonathan Clauss has not cleared the fog on the right
He’s an old sea serpent. The years go by and the right side’s question is still waiting to be answered. Didier Deschamps had sent a signal by simultaneously selecting the three candidates for the position for this gathering: Benjamin Pavard, Jules Koundé and Jonathan Clauss. The first was used as a center against Germany for the second time in a row, opening the door for Clauss, determined not to miss the cut like during the 2022 World Cup.
At home, at the Vélodrome stadium, the OM player only stayed on the field for barely eight minutes, suffering a tear in his left thigh according to the Blues staff. If the injury turns out to be serious, the Euro could fly away for Jonathan Clauss, especially since Didier Deschamps again recalled, Tuesday at a press conference, the importance that the “freshness” physical in his choices in May. Such a package would push his coach to replace him with another defender. The latter will decide between two options: call another right-back or consider Pavard as such and therefore add one more central defender.