Didier Deschamps was only able to call up 26 players for the 2026 World Cup and the last places were certainly complicated to grant by the coach of the France team. Five players lost their place in relation to the Blues training camp in the United States in March, namely Lucas Chevalier, Pierre Kalulu, Eduardo Camavinga, Randal Kolo Muani and the injured Hugo Ekitiké.
Other French internationals used during the season will not return to the French group to prepare for the World Cup in North America, like Alphonse Areola, Benjamin Pavard, Khéphren Thuram, Florian Thauvin, Kingsley Coman and Christopher Nkunku. Corentin Tolisso, 2018 world champion and former protégé of “La Dèche”, never had his chance despite his superb season with OL.
This went a little unnoticed but, at the left-back position, Adrien Truffert had every chance of being part of the selection. A French international once (in September 2022 in Denmark, replacing Ferlandy Mendy), the left back trained at Stade Rennais had a superb season at Bournemouth alongside Eli Junior Kroupi who shone with his talent at the forefront (13 goals in 33 matches). The Cherries finished 6th and will therefore be European.
Truffert, Premier League sensation
Adrien Truffert’s first season in England did not go unnoticed. The full-back recruited for 17 million euros, author of one goal and five assists, is in the running for the title of best rookie of the season with in particular Rayan Cherki. Truffert, 24, will not accompany six teammates from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games to the World Cup: Manu Koné, Désiré Doué, Maghnes Akliouche, Michal Olise, Rayan Cherki and Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Deschamps played safety for the left-back position with the experienced Lucas Digne, 32, Théo Hernandez who nevertheless left to play in Saudi Arabia after a catastrophic period with AC Milan, and Lucas Hernandez, unconvincing understudy of Nuno Mendes at PSG.
