“Don’t worry, he’ll be ready for the first game!” », retorted Olivier Giroud on Friday noon at a press conference, a few hours before today’s training session of the French team in Paderborn. The state of form of Kylian Mbappé does not necessarily worry, but it questions all the followers of the Blues as the entry into contention of Didier Deschamps’ team at Euro 2024 in Germany approaches, next Monday against Austria. Especially after his eventful second part of the season at PSG.
Spared Thursday by the French staff, Mbappé participated normally in the session on Friday afternoon. The 25-year-old captain can continue to prepare for the first meeting. He will probably be aligned at the forefront of the team against the Austrians, at the expense of Giroud precisely, which will allow Marcus Thuram to start on the left wing (where he would a priori have more important defensive activity than the superstar from Bondy ). Ousmane Dembélé will be the right winger, since Kingsley Coman continues his rehabilitation.
William Saliba and Adrien Rabiot in pole position
As also stated The Team, William Saliba and Adrien Rabiot played with the starting team. The Arsenal defender, convincing during the second preparation match against Canada, could therefore send Dayot Upamecano or Ibrahima Konaté to the bench. The latter two, however, have formed the central hinge of France since the retirement of Raphaël Varane in the wake of the 2022 World Cup.
As for Rabiot, he was associated with N’Golo Kanté and Antoine Griezmann in the midfield. There, Eduardo Camavinga is relegated among the understudies, while Aurélien Tchouaméni continues his recovery. “La Dèche” is still hesitant about the positioning of “Grizi”. He used his great offensive leader in nine and a half during preparation, in support of Kylian Mbappé, but could therefore replace him as a right relay (very free) of a 4-3-3 like at the World Cup at Qatar.
