injured, convalescents, people on waivers… The barometer of the France team before Didier Deschamps’ list

Never had a list raised so many questions before a major international competition. Two weeks before the first match of the French team at the 2022 World Cup, against Australia, Didier Deschamps does not have many certainties. Hugo Lloris, Benjamin Pavard, Théo Hernandez, Lucas Hernandez, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Adrien Rabiot, Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappé are the only ones who can say they are sure, barring a last-minute accident, of appearing in the selection of 23 to 26 players who will be unveiled Wednesday, November 9, during the evening news of TF1.

Behind, a great vagueness remains, fueled by the cascade of injuries which overwhelms the Blues in 2022. Because the packages of Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kanté could not be the only ones. Franceinfo: sport decrypts the chances of all candidates for travel to Qatar.

They still haven’t recovered from their injury.

With varying degrees of concern, Raphaël Varane, Karim Benzema, Presnel Kimpembe, Mike Maignan and Jules Koundé are all engaged in a race against the clock. Didier Deschamps warned he would only take players to the World Cup “ready for the first game”. For Maignan, injured in the calf, his coach in Milan, Stefano Pioli, seemed pessimistic at a press conference on October 21, announcing that he did not see his goalkeeper return before 2023. Since then, no other information has been given. .

As for the other four, who are all part of the possible starters, the most worrying situation is that of Raphaël Varane, who came out in tears against Chelsea on October 22. Injured in the right thigh, he will not play again with Manchester United before the start of the World Cup. He has been working on his physical condition from the den of the Blues, in Clairefontaine, for several days.

There weren’t many fears around Karim Benzema, who was rested at the end of October due to muscle fatigue in his thigh, but the Real Madrid striker, who had just returned to the field, did not was not in the merengue group to face Rayo Vallecano on Monday. Same thing for Jules Koundé with Barça, although his coach Xavi was in charge a week earlier than “it felt like an embarrassment, not an injury”. Finally, Presnel Kimpembe, who returned from seven weeks of absence, was not part of the victorious trip from PSG to Lorient on Sunday, because of a “Achilles tendon discomfort”.

They are on track to be there

In this category of players who scored points in recent weeks, we find Christopher Nkunku, who does not stop scoring with Leipzig (16 goals in 21 games, with another double on Saturday). Whoever joined the Blues last March has no reason to be demoted.

Same thing for Ousmane Dembélé, who finally manages to follow up with Barça (decisive 12 times in 17 games), after several seasons hampered by injuries. Still in the offensive sector, Olivier Giroud never stops proving that age has no effect on his performance. The 36-year-old striker, who is only two goals away from Thierry Henry’s France team goalscoring record, is already nine goals with Milan this season.

Among the myriad of quality central defenders that the France team has, the one who has had the best start to the year is undoubtedly William Saliba. Symbol of this Arsenal team in full revival, leader of the Premier League, he again allowed his defense to remain impermeable this weekend, against Chelsea (1-0). The next step is to show as much serenity with the Blues.

They are on a ballot

Depending on the system chosen by Didier Deschamps and the number of players called up, uncertainties remain. In front, Kingsley Coman seems to have a head start on Moussa Diaby, discreet with a disappointing Bayer Leverkusen, and Wissam Ben Yedder, rarely at the rendezvous with the blue jersey. But the Bayern winger has scored just one goal in 2022-23 and hasn’t played a full game since August.

In the middle, the absences of Pogba and Kanté open up the field of possibilities. If the coach does not review his tactical approach, two places are up for grabs and three players emerge: Youssouf Fofana, who is used to playing with Tchouaméni, Mattéo Guendouzi and Eduardo Camavinga. If the list is expanded, all three could be on it.

Jonathan Clauss has the perfect profile to start in the right lane. If Didier Deschamps changes the system, he could however not make the trip to Qatar because Koundé and Pavard can also occupy his position. On the other side, Ferland Mendy and Lucas Digne (out injured on Sunday with Aston Villa) will fight for the position of lining Théo Hernandez. In the axis, many are waiting for a package to apply: Dayot Upamecano, Benoît Badiashile and Ibrahima Konaté.

In goal, if Maignan was absent, the positions of n°2 and n°3 will be up for grabs. Back in the fore with Rennes, Steve Mandanda can highlight his great experience and his three World Cups. Usual number three, Alphonse Aréola has the confidence of Didier Deschamps and currently plays the role of lining in club, at West Ham. At 23, Alban Lafont represents the future and discovered the France group during the last gathering.

They apply but go far

As 38 players have already been called up by Didier Deschamps in 2022, many will be disappointed. In attack, the sector is blocked. Even if they are a hit in the Bundesliga, Randal Kolo Muani, Marcus Thuram and Alassane Pléa should not hear their names on television on Wednesday, just like the Rennais Martin Terrier, who was also injured.

In central defense, the equation is the same for a player like Axel Disasi. On the other hand, Deschamps could surprise us by modifying his system. Versatile profiles would then be more relevant than a Jonathan Clauss, pure straight piston. Can all play in the axis and on the side, Mohamed Simakan or Pierre Kalulu could be rewarded for their start to the season.

The other surprise would come from the absence of Paul Pogba, the usual custodian and blaster of the French game. Lhe profiles of Camavinga, Tchouaméni, Guendouzi, Rabiot and Fofana cannot make up for his lack in terms of creativity. Three players already called by “DD” meet this criterion, but have disappeared from the latest lists: Tanguy Ndombele, revived in Naples, Nabil Fekir, who walks around with Betis, and Thomas Lemar, not highlighted by the start of the season. his Atlético de Madrid.