Already qualified for the 2026 World Cup, the France team will end its qualifying campaign on Sunday evening. Three days after dominating Ukraine at the Parc des Princes (4-0), the Blues meet in Baku (6 p.m.) to face Azerbaijan, whose fate is also settled. Which team will Didier Deschamps field for this meeting without stakes?
According to The Teamthe national coach should keep his promise and rotate. Better, “DD” would intend to change the entirety of its last eleven at kick-off. A big first for him since he took the reins of the A in 2012. If Manu Koné, suspended, and Kylian Mbappé, spared, have returned to Rome and Madrid respectively, the nine other starters from Thursday will go on the bench.
Azerbaijan-France, a big first for Didier Deschamps!
In goal, Mike Maignan will thus leave his place to Lucas Chevalier who should therefore honor his very first cape in blue. In defense, interim captain Ibrahima Konaté would be surrounded by Malo Gusto and the brothers Lucas and Théo Hernandez. In the midfield, Warren Zaire-Emery is expected to start alongside Khéphren Thuram, Maghnes Akliouche and Christopher Nkunku.
Finally, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Hugo Ekitiké, scorer against the Ukrainians, would complete the 4-4-2 which seems to be taking shape, according to the sports daily. For them, this match will not be so trivial. Seven months before the North American World Cup (June 11 to July 19), there are still places to be won in the French team and every opportunity to prove your worth is important.
The probable line-up of the Blues against Azerbaijan
Chevalier – Gusto, Konaté (cap.), L. Hernandez, T. Hernandez – Akliouche, Zaire-Emery, K. Thuram, Nkunku – Mateta, Ekitiké.
