The Blues face Croatia in the coming days in the quarterfinals of the League of Nations. While Didier Deschamps announced the list of 24 players of the French team summoned last Thursday with a few new features, including the very first summary of Désiré Doué, an absence caught the attention of the Blues supporters: that of N'Golo Kanté. Strong man from the French midfielder, Chelsea's ex-player has all the confidence of Didier Deschamps.
Absent during the 2022 World Cup, because of a muscle injury that had removed him from the field for long weeks, the player had returned to Euro 2024, despite his departure from Chelsea for Saudi Arabia (al-Ittihad) in the summer of 2023. ” N'Golo Kanté came out of a 2022/2023 season where he did not play much. He had a full season, certainly not in a European championship. But he found all his physical abilities. Due to his experience and experience, I am convinced that the French team will be better with him “Said Didier Deschamps at the time, showing the importance of Kanté in the workforce.
Deschamps' explanations on Kanté
Last Thursday, the name of N'Golo Kanté was not pronounced by the coach of the Blues during the announcement of the list of 24 players summoned for the double confrontation against Croatia scheduled for this Thursday and Sunday.
Asked about this choice, “DD” said that he did not call on his midfielder because of a muscle problem whose player is the victim: ” I chatted with him. He has a match scheduled for tomorrow, but will not play because he is suspended. He has a little muscular concern, so I made the decision not to take it. This also leaves the opportunity to other players, with less experience, to be able to have playing time on these two games. Nothing to worry about for “NG”, which could return to the French team next June for the Final Four of the League of Nations (in the event of qualification) or for two first matches in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
