If he excels at Inter Milan as a right-axis central defender, Benjamin Pavard will probably lose his place in the eleven of Didier Deschamps’ France team. The trend is not good three months from the Euro.
It is particularly in the defensive sector that Didier Deschamps’ choices will be closely scrutinized during the French team’s next two preparation matches, against Germany and Chile, on March 23 and 26 respectively at Groupama Stadium and at the Stade Vélodrome, just three months before Euro 2024. The Blues coach will give his list on Thursday (2 p.m.).
The usual starters Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konaté are now “threatened” by the excellent William Saliba but also by Lucas Hernandez who is increasingly playing central defender with PSG (this was his position at Bayern). The hierarchy among the right-backs seems much clearer, with Jules Koundé as number 1, Benjamin Pavard as a versatile element and Jonathan Clauss as a more offensive option.
Intractable Koundé
Pavard finds himself in a very paradoxical situation. By joining Inter Milan, the right back of the 2018 world champions has the chance to play in his favorite position, the right axis of a three-way defense. He is excellent defensively but also in the game, freer in his movements (without being instructed to overrun). His performances with the Nerazzurri, however, do him a disservice to the French selection, where he is only a central hinge lining.
Meanwhile, Jules Koundé was fully installed on the right in Xavi’s Barça. Catastrophic during his first tenure with the Blues as a full-back, the former Bordeaux player is now extremely reliable. Defensively, for example, he muzzled Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on Tuesday during the Blaugranas’ qualification against Napoli in the round of 16 of the Champions League. Good news for “La Dèche”.
