Who will go to Qatar to defend the world title? Didier Deschamps unveils the list of players called up to the France team Wednesday, November 9 at 8 p.m. and end the suspense. The coach of the Blues does not have an easy task since he must take into account a well-stocked list of injured and strategic choices, including the case of Olivier Giroud. The Tricolores coach will announce the list of 23 to 26 lucky winners live during the TF1 newscast, around the executivesHugo Lloris, Kylian Mbappé, Antoine Griezmann and Karim Benzema. And therefore will shower the hopes of unsuccessful candidates.
Last September, “DD” already declared: “There are always difficult choices because I also make human choices. Not selecting one for a World Cup is hard. But it’s my role, I assume it.” After weeks of torturing his mind, the 54-year-old coach really launches his competition with this announcement, five days before the rally in Clairefontaine (Yvelines) and only thirteen before the entry into the running in Qatar against Australia, on November 22, at the Al-Janoub stadium. Didier Deschamps’ thinking has been complicated by the flood of injuries that have taken away several Blues in recent weeks.
Hecatomb of wounded
There are already several certainties: injured players who will not be recovered in time. This is the case of two major pillars of the Blues: Paul Pogba
and N’Golo Kante. Deschamps also closely follows the evolution of Mike Maignangoalkeeper n°2 and injured in a calf, as well as that of Presnel Kimpembe, injured in the Achilles tendon. On the other hand, optimism is allowed with regard to the vice-captain Raphael Varane, injured in the thigh and which should be recovered in time. In any case, the staff of the Blues will wait until the last moment to validate or not their presence.
Other recent holders remain fragile: Jules Kounde (preserved by Barcelona), Lucas Hernández (barely back from injury) and Karim Benzema, Ballon d’Or put to rest on Monday by Real Madrid for persistent discomfort in one thigh. “I will not take a player who is unable to play the start of the competition“, Didier Deschamps said in recent days. The final list must be sent Monday at 7 p.m. to Fifa but, in the event of a serious injury, he can make last-minute substitutions until November 21.
The thorny Olivier Giroud case
The statement of the players selected for the last Euro, in the spring of 2021, had resonated like an earthquake with the unexpected return of Benzema, banned at the time for five and a half years. That of the Mondial-2022 will reserve fewer surprises: all the executives mentioned so far are expected in the group. The uncertainties mainly concern the replacements … and Olivier Giroud. The center-forward of AC Milan, second top scorer in the history of the Blues, is untenable in club despite his 36 years. But Deschamps refuses, since the Euro, to call him at the same time as Benzema, believing that a player of this status can hardly accept a role of lining without making waves.
Nevertheless, “DD” and “Olive” recently discussed the subject and the latter repeated, in an interview, that he was ready to settle for crumbs in exchange for a call for a third World Cup, after 2014 and 2018. If called up, Giroud will bring experience to a renewed group: among the 23 world champions in Moscow, it is unlikely to find more than ten in 2022. Lloris and Alphonse Areola (goalkeeper n°3) will thus chain Russia and Qatar, as Lucas Hernandez, Benjamin Pavard, Kimpembe and Varane if they are fit, like Mbappé and Griezmann in attack.
A four-defender system?
The midfielder, on the other hand, will be a novice in the World Cup, with Adrien Rabiot and Aurélien Tchouaméni on pole to be holders, and serious candidates like Youssouf Fofana and Eduardo Camavinga to complete the line. Theo Hernandezyoungest of Lucas, is expected in defense to become the first “globalist” tricolor siblings since Jean and Lucien Laurent in 1930. In attack, the candidates are numerous: Christopher Nkunku and Kingsley Coman are on track to compete in their first World Cup, Ousmane Dembele applies to play a second.
The structure of the list will also depend on Deschamps’ tactical intentions. If he has favored a system of three central defenders in recent months, the hypothesis of seeing the Blues return to a four-man defense, their strength at the last World Cup, has gained in consistency since the September rally … But before d tweak the tactics, you have to announce the players.
The different options of Didier Deschamps:
Goalkeepers: uncertainty Maignan
- In pole position: Hugo Lloris, Mike Maignan, Alphonse Areola.
- In balance: Alban Lafont, Steve Mandanda.
Defenders: Varane and Kimpembe expected
- In pole position: Lucas Hernandez, Theo Hernandez, Jules Koundé, Benjamin Pavard, Raphaël Varane.
- In balance: Presnel Kimpembe, Ibrahima Konaté, Pierre Kalulu, Mohamed Simakan, Benoît Badiashile, Jonathan Clauss, Lucas Digne, Ferland Mendy, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, Nordi Mukiele, Axel Disasi.
Midfielders: Fofana and Camavinga candidates
- In pole position: Adrien Rabiot, Aurélien Tchouaméni.
- In balance: Eduardo Camavinga, Youssouf Fofana, Mattéo Guendouzi, Boubacar Kamara, Jordan Veretout, Tanguy Ndombélé.
Attackers: Giroud expected
- In pole position: Karim Benzema, Kingsley Coman, Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappé, Christopher Nkunku, Olivier Giroud.
- In balance: Ousmane Dembélé, Moussa Diaby, Randal Kolo Muani, Marcus Thuram, Wissam Ben Yedder.
The program of the French team:
The French football team lands in Qatar on Wednesday November 16, six days before its start in the World Cup against Australia, the starting point until the final hoped for on December 18.
- Monday, November 14: gathering of the Blues at the Clairefontaine training center (Yvelines).
- Wednesday, November 16: arrival of the French team in Qatar, installation in the base camp Al Messila Resort & Spa in Doha (8 km west of the city center).
- Tuesday, November 22 (8:00 p.m.): France – Australia, in the group stage, at the Al-Janoub stadium, in Al-Wakrah.
- Saturday November 26 (5 p.m.): France – Denmark, in the group stage, at the 974 stadium, in Doha.
- Wednesday November 30 (4 p.m.): Tunisia – France, in the group stage, at the Education City stadium, in Doha.
- Saturday December 3 or Sunday December 4: possible round of 16.
- Friday, December 9 or Saturday, December 10: possible quarter-final.
- Tuesday, December 13 or Wednesday, December 14: possible semi-final.
- Saturday, December 17: match for possible third place.
- Sunday, December 18: possible final.