This is a real chance, the French team of Didier Deschamps is almost complete for its first two matches in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, against Ukraine, the outsider of this group of four, Friday September 5 in Wroclaw (Poland), and Iceland, the following Tuesday at the Parc des Princes. Captain Kylian Mbappé is already in great shape with Real and only his teammate with the Merengues Eduardo Camavonga is missing.
The tricolor coach can thus count on the returns of Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba and Jules Koundé in Defense, which dismisses the 2018 world champion Benjamin Pavard, but also Pierre Kalulu, Loïc Badé, Clément Lenglet, who were part of the group of 25 players for the final oven of the League of Nations in early June (5-4 defeat against Spain, the small final).
In fact, there are seven players dismissed by “the Dèche” compared to the previous international window. In the middle, Warren Zaïre-Emery is no longer summoned, when he could have been returned to hopes long before (especially for the Euro Hopes) due to an average season at PSG. Mattéo Guendouzi also disappears from the list while his energy can do good during the meeting (and he made a normal preseason with Lazio).
Deschamps attempts Khéphren Thuram and Akliouche
It was necessary to make room for Khéphren Thuram, a medium also capable of getting forward (like Guendouzi and “Cama”), but also for Maghnes Akliouche, offensive player of great talent but a little irregular during last season with AS Monaco.
The last “sidelining” concerns Randal Kolo Muani and it is well logical despite the love that Deschamps has to the attacker formed at FC Nantes. The latter did not start the season because his departure for Juventus is still blocked (despite an agreement announced between the two clubs for a loan with obligation to purchase for a total of 45 million euros).
