the pillars, the regulars, the long-term injured… The Blues barometer seven months before Euro 2024

Before the Euro, the coach will only have two friendly matches to decide which players will be part of his list. Trends are already emerging.

One page is turning and another is about to begin. France ended 2023 with a draw in Greece on Tuesday (2-2), with a reshuffled team, likely to give Didier Deschamps pause. The coach had warned that the meetings in November would count in his consideration for the list of players selected for Euro 2024 (June 14-July 14 in Germany), which he will reveal in May.

Until then, Didier Deschamps will only have two friendly matches, in March, to refine his choices, based on what he has seen from his players in the selection and in their club. Seven months before the Euro, trends are already emerging, but being well placed in the fall does not guarantee a presence in the final list. Alexandre Lacazette and Anthony Martial, very good against Germany in November 2017 and absent at the 2018 World Cup, are well placed to know.

They are almost certain to be there

Let’s start with the obvious. At Euro 2024, the France team will be led by its leaders: captain Kylian Mbappé and his vice-captain Antoine Griezmann. In goals, Mike Maignan will be number 1, while Brice Samba and Alphonse Areola will be the two replacement goalkeepers. The hierarchy has been frozen, for the moment, by Didier Deschamps, who entrusted the status of number 2 to Brice Samba, holder and who conceded two goals against Greece.

Among the defenders, several places seem to be acquired. Jules Koundé is the starter at right-back, even if he was not flawless in Greece, the Hernandez brothers will fight for the place on the left, and the central hinge should be made up of Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konate. The association which emerged at the World Cup has retained the coach’s favor, even if it has not been able to be fielded since June due to injuries to each of the two players.

Injured and absent during this gathering, Aurélien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga will be essential in the midfield, like Adrien Rabiot, who is gaining in leadership, as evidenced by his appearance at a press conference on Monday. In attack, Ousmane Dembélé and Kingsley Coman will fight for the right winger position. At 37, Olivier Giroud is not yet certain of playing in the Euro as a starter, but his experience and sense of goal make him a natural leader.

They are in favorable ballot

In this photograph from the end of 2023, 16 places already seem to be promised to the aforementioned players. If we rely on the 2022 World Cup, where Didier Deschamps opted for a list of 25 players, there are therefore nine tickets left for the Euro. Some leave with a head start. A big head start even when it comes to Randal Kolo Muani and Marcus Thuram. The first is in the mind of the coach a natural candidate to succeed Olivier Giroud at the forefront of the attack. Scorer in Greece, he will have to continue on this path in the coming months, with the Blues and PSG. Marcus Thuram responded to every opportunity the coach gave him. If he confirms his good start to the season with Inter Milan, it seems unlikely that he will miss the boat.

In defense, some doubts remain around Benjamin Pavard. 2018 world champion as a right back, the Inter player now wants to be considered as a central defender and played his last selection in October in this position. If he settles there with the Blues, he will have to deal with fierce competition at the hinge. On his future depends that of Jonathan Clauss, favorite to recover his place on the right. Back with the Blues in October after a year of absence, the Marseillais satisfied his coach in the four-man defense, although he was initially only considered as a piston.

In the middle, Youssouf Fofana has been at every gathering since the World Cup and impressed in Greece. In this sector, we will have the opportunity to “goodbye” Warren Zaire-Emery, as announced by Didier Deschamps. If he continues at the same pace with PSG upon his return from injury, the 17-year-old Titi will be at the Euro.

They go from further away

Central defense is clearly the most blocked sector. Behind the starting duo Konaté-Upamecano, Benjamin Pavard, Lucas Hernandez and Jules Koundé are all capable of playing substitutes. There will be between zero and two tickets to be won for the Euro. Several axials have been tested in recent months by Didier Deschamps. William Saliba is a boss with Arsenal but has difficulty convincing the coach, Axel Disasi is only entitled to a few scattered minutes and Jean-Clair Todibo has played too little to stand out. Appreciated by Didier Deschamps, Wesley Fofana and Presnel Kimpembe are starting from very far away due to long-term injuries.

In midfield, there could be a place to be taken and Boubacar Kamara seems in pole position to get it. But he didn’t even come into play in Greece, like Khephren Thuram. Jordan Veretout starts from further away. Up front, the hierarchy has become somewhat rigid, but Christopher Nkunku could knock on the door if he finds his best level once he returns from injury. The development of another player will be particularly closely monitored, that of young Mathys Tel (18 years old), who is progressing day by day at Bayern Munich and who has just joined the Espoirs.