French team: Chevalier, Nkunku, Rabiot… Didier Deschamps explains his choices and his omissions

Warren Zaire-Emery, Bradley Barcola, Michael Olise and even Manu Koné… For several months, Didier Deschamps had gotten into the habit of calling on new faces among the Blues. The day after an XXL performance against Real Madrid, one could wonder if the time had not come for Lucas Chevalier, fourth in the hierarchy of goalkeepers. It ultimately won’t be for now. Present at a press conference this Thursday to announce his list for the two Nations League matches against Israel on October 10, and Belgium on the 14th, Didier Deschamps justified the absence of the Lille goalkeeper, and his other choices: “He had a matchcorrect +» against Real Madridsmiled the Blues coach, before continuing. Why isn’t he summoned? He’s getting closer and closer. The three who are there are used to it and have not lowered their level. I didn’t need yesterday’s match to know that Lucas had great potential. He’s younger too, that will come at one point or another. But with the three goalkeepers I called, it requires me to perform well, and that doesn’t stop me from opening the door for Lucas later.»

No new stuff, therefore, but some returning players, like Christopher Nkunku, performing well despite reduced playing time at Chelsea at the start of the season. Through his creative profile and his well-known qualities, the Parisian titi seems to be destined to become the “substitute» from the newly retired Antoine Griezmann, who, everyone knows, obviously remains irreplaceable: “Christopher hasn’t been here for a while because he unfortunately suffered a series of injuries that prevented him from having continuity. He doesn’t have excessive playing time at Chelsea, but every time he plays he has lots of energy. By stringing together good performances and playing time, this should allow him to return to his best level.», Confided DD to the press. Another Blues player, in this case Wesley Fofana, is also returning to the selection, a month after having had to give up the Blues rally: “Wesley Fofana has a suitable program with Chelsea and he plays in the Premier League but not in the Cup. Since last month, he has been able to play one match after another while performing well.justified the French coach.

Adrien Rabiot will wait

An indisputable starter for the Blues since 2022, Adrien Rabiot was slow to find a club this summer, before finally signing for OM in September. A logical lack of rhythm for the Marseillais, who only played thirty minutes against Strasbourg last weekend. For Deschamps, it made sense to let him get his bearings during this international break: “I spoke with him several times between the moment he started doing specific work and group training. He only played 30 minutes. He still needs time, his last match started was on July 9 against Spain with us (in the Euro semi-final). We must not rush, it is wiser for him to perfect his condition, gain playing time to be available in November“, he added.

At the same time, Deschamps also mentioned the case of several Hopes likely to join the France group, like Enzo Millot, brilliant with Stuttgart and notably in the Champions League, but also Maghnes Akliouche, a major player at the start of Monaco’s successful season: “Are Millot and Akliouche far away? Yes and no, it’s linked to the competition but we monitor them regularly. They are in U21 and the team is also relatively young (in A). We must maintain what they are doing over time. » Finally, the case of Benjamin Pavard, dismissed once again after the failed rally in September, was only mentioned furtively: “Benjamin plays, but not every match (with Inter). I know what he can do. If I am Kalulu? Of course I follow several players including (Pierre) Kalulu. I do it at Juve but I was already doing it at AC Milan.» For Pavard, suffice to say that the noose is tightening after a Euro without playing a single minute…