This Thursday, Didier Deschamps will give his list for the next two matches of the French team, in the Nations League against Belgium and Italy. For this first gathering after Euro 2024, and for the first meeting on the road to the 2026 World Cup, some hope to see renewal, with the call-up of Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), brilliant with the Blues at the Olympics.
However, it is in midfield that the coach will have to make choices, with the injury of Eduardo Camavinga, and the probable absence of Adrien Rabiot, still without a club. Antoine Griezmann and Aurélien Tchouaméni will be there, as will Warren Zaïre-Emery, who did not play a minute at the Euro but is starting the season as a starter at PSG. Recently transferred to Milan, Youssouf Fofana has the confidence of Deschamps and will probably be on the list. And it remains to be seen what “DD” has planned regarding N’Golo Kanté, who has returned to competition with Al-Ittihad.
Akliouche or Doué among the Blues?
Who will the coach call to complete the list? If we look at the players called up in 2023 and 2024, we can cross out the names of Jordan Veretout (dismissed in Marseille) and Boubacar Kamara (still injured). Khepren Thuram had the profile to be on the list, he who has just reached a milestone by joining Juventus, but a thigh injury should keep him off the pitch for a few weeks. Which leaves Didier Deschamps with only two options: Mattéo Guendouzi, a starter with Lazio during the first two Serie A matches, or… a new one.
To find new blood, it would be natural for Didier Deschamps to draw from the list of players called up for the Olympic Games by Thierry Henry, the Espoirs coach. We can thus think of Manu Koné, even if he is in an uncertain situation at Mönchengladbach, Maghnes Akliouche, very good with Monaco since the start of the season, or Désiré Doué, the new recruit of Paris Saint-Germain. Will there be a lucky one?
