It is this evening that the Blues make their return. On the occasion of the 5th and penultimate day of the Nations League, Didier Deschamps’ players host Israel (8:45 p.m.) in a particularly tense climate due to the international context. We would almost forget the holding of a football match, when only 20,000 people are expected for this match at the Stade de France for a presence of around 4,000 members of the police. It will be up to the players in this match to ignore this atmosphere, even if the silence imposed by this low attendance will inevitably remind us of it.
There is someone who will be absent from this evening, it is Kylian Mbappé. Absent from Didier Deschamps’ list by the coach’s wishes, the French captain will watch (or not) his teammates from his television screen in Madrid. He will thus see Maignan, with whom the atmosphere does not seem to be good, in the goals. The goalkeeper will be protected by a 4-3-3 system with a defense composed of Koundé on the right and Theo Hernandez on the left. Between the two full-backs, a Konaté-Upamecano hinge is expected, leaving Saliba on the sidelines this time.
An unprecedented attack
The coach warned during his first press conference. He will try to redistribute playing time as best as possible in an already exceptional season between the reform of the European Cups, and the brand new Club World Cup which is to be held this summer. In midfield, Zaire-Emery is expected to start alongside the evening captain, N’Golo Kanté, and Camavinga since Tchouaméni is injured and Rabiot returns. Finally in front, and in the absence of Mbappé but also of Dembélé (injured) and now of Griezmann (international retirement), France would evolve with an unprecedented trio Olise-Kolo Muani-Barcola.
The French team will try to maintain the gap, and why not even reduce it, with Italy before the “final” between the two selections on Sunday evening. For Israel, the situation is radically different. Ran Ben Shimon’s players have still not taken a single point. They should come in 3-4-3 with Glazer in goal. Baltaxa, Nachmias and Feingold would occupy the central defense. Haziza on the right and Adada on the left would play the role of piston between Kanichowsky and Abu Fani in the axis. Gloukh and Peretz would have the mission of supporting Madmon, aligned at the forefront.
The probable compositions:
France: Maignan – Koundé, Konaté, Upamecano, T. Hernandez – Zaire-Emery, Kanté, Camavinga – Olise, Kolo Muani, Barcola
Israel: Glazer – Baltaxa, Nachmias, Feingold – Haziza, Kanichowsky, Abu Fani, Adada – Gloukh, Peretz – Madmon
