The shadow of Kylian Mbappé loomed even before the start of Didier Deschamps’ press conference. A few minutes earlier, and while the trend was towards a return of the star of the France team, information was circulating of his new absence. The second after his loss a month ago which saw the captain of the Blues head to Stockholm with consequences still unknown. The coach must therefore once again do without his center forward for these two Nations League matches against Israel (November 14) and Italy (November 17) but with a new goalkeeper. Lucas Chevalier was called up for the first time.
This is a fair reward for the Lille goalkeeper, who has impressed since he established himself in the cage of his training club in the summer of 2022. “This is an important step for him. He performed well last season and continues to do so on the European scene. This is to the detriment of Alphonse Areola who is not there. Events have brought him here. He joins this group and the brotherhood of guardians», Explains the coach at a press conference without specifying the place of the new 23-year-old in the hierarchy of goalkeepers with Mike Maignan and Brice Samba.
