In the absence of Ousmane Dembélé, spared like the other finalists of the PSG-Arsenal Champions League last Saturday, Rayan Cherki was not only lined up as number 10 of the France team to face Ivory Coast, for the first preparation match for the 2026 World Cup, Thursday evening in Nantes. The Manchester City attacking midfielder has been the most high-profile offensive player. He could very quickly become an essential part of Didier Deschamps’ training…
A genius on the ball, Cherki played the match in complete relaxation against the Elephants. While Michael Olise was less influential by being placed on the right, even if the Bayern crack gave a goal ball to Kylian Mbappé at the start of the match (6th) before trying his luck in an off-center position (21st), Rayan Cherki was able to receive the ball between the lines in the axis, despite a grouped Ivorian block, and was dangerous on several occasions.
Cherki starting at the World Cup?
The OL-trained prodigy, number 24 in the back, ended up opening the scoring before half-time by erasing Seko Fofana before a sudden cross shot from the right which beat Yahia Fofana, the opposing goalkeeper (45th), for his 2nd international goal in six caps. Cherki had just alerted the former Angers goalkeeper from the left. Ten minutes before that, the 22-year-old had been too greedy by trying to control a cross from Marcus Thuram instead of hitting with first intention (31st). Not replaced at the break, he offered some quality technical gestures and put Maghnes Akliouche in a position to score, in vain, just before his exit (78th).
While “La Dèche” had left to establish Hugo Ekitiké on the left in order to compose a fiery offensive quartet in the company of Dembélé, Olise and Mbappé, the performance of Rayan Cherki could make him change his plans. The answer will only be given against Senegal, on June 16 in the suburbs of New York, for the Blues’ first match at the North American World Cup. The second friendly match, Monday against Northern Ireland, will allow Deschamps to give playing time to his understudies.
