Already qualified for their next major event, and winners (4-1) against Scotland on Tuesday, the Blues still have two matches to play in 2023 and eight months to identify eleven starters.
Guaranteed to play Euro 2024 in Germany next summer (from June 14 to July 14) since their victory in the Netherlands, the Blues have done what is necessary to have certainty. The year is a success before the last two meetings of 2023. With six victories in six official matches and only one goal conceded, Didier Deschamps has consolidated the achievements of the last World Cup, but is aiming even higher. The key players are known: Kylian Mbappé, Aurélien Tchouameni, Antoine Griezmann, Ibrahima Konaté and Mike Maignan. But some places are still to be taken.
Being seeded at Euro 2024
Before even thinking about the eleven type that Didier Deschamps will line up for the first match of the Euro, the Blues still have a mission to accomplish before the end of 2023. They have two matches left to play, against Gibraltar ( on November 18), then against Greece (November 21). Two matches which will have an influence with a view to the draw for Euro 2024.
To be among the top seeds, the French team must finish in the top five in the qualifying phase. This would normally allow him to obtain a more lenient group at the time of the tournament. For the moment, it is in an ideal position, being one of the only two selections to have won all its matches (6/6) alongside Portugal. “It will take more than 18 points“, underlined Deschamps after the Netherlands. His players heard the message, all repeating the same verse in unison: above all, do not lower the requirements despite this qualification already acquired.
Identify which duo will accompany Kylian Mbappé in attack
Untouchable on the left, Kylian Mbappé has no real counterpart on the right. Kingsley Coman is the number 1 option in the last matches. But, if he brings into the game, the Bayern Munich player is not decisive enough. Against Scotland, he scored his first goal in Blue since November 2021 (against Sweden, 4-2). He still remains one step ahead, because his main competitor, Ousmane Dembélé, is disappointing in the French team in 2023.
At the forefront, the competition is also tough. This is the only position where all the contenders got playing time during this gathering. Randal Kolo Muani started against the Netherlands, Olivier Giroud against Scotland and Marcus Thuram came on twice. Top scorer in the history of the Blues, the AC Milan striker could be a step ahead of his competitors, also thanks to his complementarity with Kylian Mbappé or Antoine Griezmann. But Randal Kolo Muani has ambition, and if he plays regularly with Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé at PSG, there will be no shortage of automatisms. Marcus Thuram, performing well with Inter Milan, seems to be one step behind. His good starts could make him a key player coming off the bench.
Clarify the hierarchy in defense
The biggest gray area concerns the defensive line. On the right, Jules Koundé had clearly gained the upper hand over Benjamin Pavard since the World Cup. The Barcelona player, placed back in the center of the club, was injured during this gathering. Jonathan Clauss took the opportunity to make his return after a year of absence from the selection. The OM player scored points against the Netherlands, before losing points against Scotland.
“I’ve always had more or less headaches. There is competition, as there is in the middle. At the offensive level too. I’m not going to complain about it.”
Didier Deschamps, coach of the French teamat a press conference
Having become number 2 in this position, Benjamin Pavard has made it clear that he covets the axis. “I think everyone has seen that central defender is my best position”insisted the latter at the microphone of TF1 after his idyllic evening at Pierre-Mauroy on Tuesday, punctuated by a double and a few minutes with the captain’s armband. “I still told him again that there are people in the area”tempered Didier Deschamps a few minutes later at a press conference.
The coach was keen to emphasize that the Ibrahima Konaté-Dayot Upamecano association, developed during the World Cup, had “from the respondent at all levels”. This duo still holds the rope. On the left looms a fratricidal duel between Théo and Lucas Hernandez, the first offering more offensive potential, the second more stability.