Three months after their third place obtained in the Final Four of the Nations League at the expense of Germany (0-2), the French team launched its qualification campaign at the 2026 World Cup next week. Two trashy matches await the Blues: Ukraine in Wrocław (Poland), on September 5, then Iceland four days later at the Parc des Princes. Didier Deschamps unveiled his list this Wednesday, and it contains some surprises.
The big novelty obviously lies in the presence of Maghnes Akliouche, called for the first time in his career in the French team. One year before the World Cup, the 23 -year -old attacking midfielder should finally stay in Monaco, and for the moment, his start to the season is about him. “Magnès Akliouche is more a corridor player. He has had a good season with Monaco, he has a lot of technical qualities, he can still progress in efficiency but he does interesting things ”said the tricolor coach.
Hugo Ekitike will wait
A candidate to join the France group, Hugo Ekitike has not yet been able to taste this joy. But Didier Deschamps opened the door to him: “Hugo, we already followed him in Frankfurt, he had a very good season, so much the better for him. It is very good that it is effective, but there is competition. I'm not going to accumulate players but obviously he has the potential to be in the France team. ” During this press conference, Didier Deschamps also said that N'Golo Kanté was always selectable, like Corentin Tolisso, still no return.
“”Corentin Tolisso has had a good season, he is free from his physical troubles. It is followed even if it has a higher position in club, where it is efficient. We are attentive. He has an experience, an experience and I am already happy to see him efficient. For the rest, we will see, but there are also a lot of people, including a return player who has not yet resumed“, He smiled, referring to Paul Pogba. In the middle, Adrien Rabiot, on the other hand, was well called despite his very uncertain situation in OM.
Rabiot recalled
“He did his preparation with friendly matches, his first game, it happened, it was not an easy situation for him, I don't know what will happen by Monday. The only thing I know is that on Monday, it will be settled, I don't know in what direction, but its situation will be clear. Touch ? Inevitably, these are things never easy to manage when it takes on a media scale with different people who can express themselves … I am not saying who is right or who is wrong, I discussed with him, I know what he told me, I want Adrien in relation to what he does, what he is able to do, it was important for me to know in which state of mind it was in relation to the two very important games. “
Deschamps also made the choice to recall Lucas Hernandez, as in June. He spoke of a question “benchmarks», And rented the versatility of his player, capable of playing in the axis, but also to help out on the left. Regarding Giroud, DD confirmed that his player's retirement was final. The absence of Randal Kolo Muani results from his situation as a loft at PSG. Regarding that of Warren Zaïre-Emery, the Bayonnais said “not being worried”, and that he had “everything for him”.
