The coach of the France team announced on Wednesday the list of 23 players called up for the Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Gibraltar and Greece on June 16 and 19.
After the big upheaval, a bit of continuity for the Blues. Didier Deschamps did not carry out a major squad review at the end of the season, while the French team must face Gibraltar (June 16) and Greece (June 19) in the Euro 2024 qualifiers. his second post-World Cup list, the national coach made changes by homeopathic dose. Ousmane Dembélé and Christopher Nkunku, injured for the last rally, are back. As William Saliba (Arsenal) is still in the infirmary, the Monegasque Axel Disasi, present at the World Cup, finds the group.
Of the 23 players selected in March, only Jordan Veretout, Jean-Clair Todibo, Moussa Diaby and Khéphren Thuram were not selected. The latter was selected with the Hopes for the Euro in the category which begins on June 21. Diaby is paying for the return of his former sidekick from the PSG training center, Christopher Nkunku, author of a good end to the season after the serious knee injury which deprived him of the last World Cup.
With this list, Didier Deschamps thickens the contours of the new face of the post-Qatar Blues. The technician must also deal with the prolonged absences of certain executive players like N’Golo Kanté and Paul Pogba. Both midfielders have relapsed in recent weeks. “Of course Paul was thinking before getting injured again, and was a fundamental player for the France team.assured Didier Deschamps at a press conference. Is it going to be [encore]? He will do anything for it.“
Return of Ferland Mendy, no Alexandre Lacazette
To compensate for these defections, the Habs of Real Madrid are playing musical chairs: Eduardo Camavinga finds a place in midfield, while Ferland Mendy returns to the group for the first time since September. Didier Deschamps wanted to count on versatile players, capable of occupying several positions for this end-of-season gathering which is always difficult to approach. “I did not want, given the delicate period, an enlarged group to finally put players in the stands. With 23 players, we have three options for each position. With the construction of this list, we are calmer because we do not know what can happen. Recover players who were in nature, on vacation in flip flops, with sand between their toes…”, Deschamps laughed.
No return to Blue on the other hand for Alexandre Lacazette, yet author of a very good individual season with Olympique Lyonnais (27 goals in the league).He was preselectedadded Didier Deschamps. He is in competition with players who have met our expectations such as Olivier Giroud or Randal Kolo Muani. I’m not going to put three, four, five in the same position, that wouldn’t make sense. But we continue to follow him.“
The Blues will seek to retain the lead in their qualifying group for Euro 2024 after dominating the Netherlands (4-0) and Ireland (1-0) in the first two days.