The Blues will see America. Since their victory over Ukraine on Thursday evening (4-0), they have validated their ticket for the 2026 World Cup which will be played this summer in Mexico, the United States and Canada. Didier Deschamps therefore still has six months and one last gathering to designate his group that he will take for what will be his last competition as coach of the France team. In this sense, the match in Baku on Sunday (6 p.m.) reveals a certain importance. It does not have a great accounting interest but will allow a lot of replacements to show up.
While Mbappé and Camavinga, affected, returned to Madrid, like Manu Koné, suspended, returned to Rome, the last 22 elements of the France group headed to Azerbaijan. Some will have the opportunity to show themselves, like Lucas Chevalier, expected to make his big debut in the selection. The Parisian, despite his current difficulties, should be on the trip this summer, like number one Mike Maignan, and probably Brice Samba, number 3 in the hierarchy. There are 17 of them in this case who can already reserve their ticket.
There are more or less 9 places left to take
In addition to the goalkeepers, Jules KoundĂ©, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, Ibrahima KonatĂ©, Lucas Digne and Theo Hernandez will be there, barring injury or sudden unavailability. In the middle, AurĂ©lien Tchouameni, Manu KonĂ© and Adrien Rabiot seem untouchable. What about N’Golo KantĂ©, whose case will cause headaches for Didier Deschamps, especially after his great performance at the Parc des Princes? In front, Kylian MbappĂ©, Ousmane DembĂ©lĂ©, DĂ©sirĂ© DouĂ©, Bradley Barcola, Michael Olise are essential. Of course, the truth of November is not the truth of June.
There are therefore 9 places left to take in the group. Some are a little ahead of others like Malo Gusto, Lucas Hernandez or even Eduardo Camavinga. Warren Zaire-Emery and Kephren Thuram will have to perform tomorrow to score points in the eyes of Deschamps, like Florian Thauvin, Maghnes Akliouche and Christopher Nkunku. Hugo Ekitike’s good start against Ukraine gives him some guarantees that Jean-Philippe Mateta, for example, does not have. Rayan Cherki will have to raise his voice to be there. In short, this Azerbaijan-France is undoubtedly more important than we think.
