The France team presents a new face to face Azerbaijan this Sunday (kick-off at 6 p.m.), as part of the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, with a surprising particularity: no player in the starting eleven has scored more than two goals for the selection. A first since… June 2011. At the time, Laurent Blanc’s Blues presented themselves against Poland with a group in full transition. Fourteen years later, a new cycle begins, and statistics resurface.
The eleven aligned by Didier Deschamps looks decidedly new: Knight in goal, a Gusto – Konaté – Lucas Hernandez – Théo Hernandez defense, a Zaire-Emery-Thuram double pivot, and an Akliouche-Nkunku-Ekitike offensive trio behind Mateta. Talent everywhere, but very little international finishing experience.
Even the most anticipated offensive elements remain relative novices in the blue jersey. A striking contrast with the Giroud, Mbappé or Benzema years, where the slightest kick-off was accompanied by an impressive statistical pedigree.
This composition illustrates Deschamps’ desire to test a new generation, to distribute the chances and to observe who can possibly slip into the group to reconquer the world crown in the United States.
