On Thursday, Didier Deschamps unveiled his first list since the World Cup. No big surprises in the program, but there are new faces. As announced in our column on Wednesday, Lencois goalkeeper Brice Samba will join the group of world vice-champions, along with Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana and Nice midfielder Chefren Thuram.
Otherwise, there is almost nothing surprising: the satisfaction from the World Cup, such as defenders Upamecano and Konate or striker Colo Muani, is there. Just like Olivier Giroud, true to his post. Among the finalists in Qatar, in addition to Lloris, Varane and Mandanda, who retired from the national team, only Marseille Guendouzi and Monegasque Disasi were not recalled. Ousmane Dembele is injured.
Although 18 of the 23 players called up were in the World Cup, overall it was a fairly young group that Deschamps called up. With the presence of three newcomers who will tend to settle down over time. For a coach, it’s a matter of “preparation, not necessarily long-term, but medium-term,” he explains at a press conference. This necessarily involves meeting with the players in the group and on the field to get answers for the future. While still being competitive because we are going to be tough in our home games right away and the goal is to qualify for the Euros. »
The Blues, still bereft of Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante and now retired Hugo Lloris and Raphael Varane, are now focused on the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign in Germany. They will challenge the Netherlands at the Stade de France on Friday 24 March before heading to Ireland three days later. Their group also consists of Greece and Gibraltar. The first two will be automatically qualified.
One of the questions of the collection will concern the identity of the new captain of the French national team after eleven years of faithful and conscientious service to Lloris. Didier Deschamps assures that he has not yet decided, or at least will not announce it immediately, but only after discussions with the suitors, including Kylian Mbappe. “I want to have an internal discussion before making a decision,” explains the coach. There is a responsibility towards being a captain with slightly more important responsibilities. »
Likewise in terms of the hierarchy in the goalkeeper position, “DD” has his own idea, but he will wait to give it to discuss with his three goalkeepers. Mike Meignan, Alphonse Areola and one of the newcomers, hence Brice Samba.
Source: Le Parisien
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