The deadline is inexorably approaching. If some nations currently have their sights set on the CAN, others already have their minds turned towards the World Cup next summer. This is the case of the French team, which will arrive with the knife between its teeth 42 months after its legendary final lost to Argentina. For his last big challenge at the head of the Blues, Didier Deschamps steps forward today with several certainties. A priori, Kylian Mbappé will remain a central attacker without a strict framework, but with Olise in support.
In recent months, the Blues coach has repeatedly repeated his esteem for the Bavarian, now firmly established in the number 10 position. Keeping the same configuration as during the last rallies, two folding seats remain to be taken among the attacking 4-2-3-1. The one on the right should be reserved for Ballon d’Or Ousmane DembĂ©lĂ©, provided he is spared from injuries until then. The two friendly matches scheduled against Brazil and Colombia in March should shed more light on Deschamps’ direction.
The great mystery on the left
Still, by anticipating and taking into account the current forms of each, certain profiles could quickly surface in the debate, like Hugo Ekitike and Rayan Cherki. Amazing with Manchester City, of which he is today the X factor, the ex-Lyonnais has on his side his tactical flexibility and his ambidextrous side. The Athletic reveals that he is the player creating the most scoring chances in the Premier League this season, and his freedom of movement allows him to generate danger from any area.
3 of his 7 assists came from the left axis, while the other 4 from the right axis, towards which he seems to have a more natural attraction. This versatility is worth gold for Didier Deschamps, who has often been able to vary the profiles in his corridors: the needy ones like Matuidi, the percussion wingers like Barcola, or the more interior and creative wingers like DĂ©sirĂ© DouĂ©. For DD, the challenge will lie in its ability to find the right balance, and above all the right animation to prevent its offensive players from stepping on each other’s toes.
March could mark a new beginning for Cherki
The last matches of the Blues in any case suggest that Deschamps is still groping to establish his quartet. Since June, Désiré Doué, Marcus Thuram, Hugo Ekitike, Christopher Nkunku and Bradley Barcola have shared the left winger position in turns. With very diverse fortunes. After causing a sensation in June against Spain (5-4), Cherki missed the September and October meetings due to an injury.
He returned to the France group in November, but blew hot and cold during his tenure against Ukraine (4-0). Aligned as number 10, the attacking midfielder did not have the influence of his best days, and Olise then changed the match by recovering this role. March could therefore mark a new beginning for the Manchester City player. As long as the coach is receptive to this idea.
