Each gathering has its problems, and it was not a sinecure for Didier Deschamps. Between injuries, uncertainties, and even standoff with certain clubs to release their players in good time, the coach of the Blues has put on the handyman's habit in recent days. Deprived of Dayot Upamecano, hit in the knee since the qualification of the Blues against Croatia three months ago (2-0, 5-4 TAB), and Eduardo Camavanga, injured in the adductor and unavailable until the end of the season, DD therefore had to make strong choices to form his list of 25 players, unveiled this Wednesday.
As a reminder, the Blues will compete in a semi-final of the League of Nations against the Spanish European Champion led by Lamine Yamal, on June 5 to Stuttgart, and will then challenge Germany or Portugal, either during the grand final, or during the matching match for 3rd place. These will therefore be two new opportunities to compete with large European sizes, just over a year from the World Cup, the end of the adventure of Deschamps at the head of the Blues. Kylian Mbappé will inevitably be inhabited by the desire to win a new World Cup, and the Real Madrid striker, brilliant in club in recent weeks, is logically present in this new list concocted by DD, three months after his return to selection.
Cherki finally called
This is also the case of Ousmane Dembélé, but which will arrive a little later in Clairefontaine, final of the Champions League requires. Three months after having broken out his new French international status, Désiré Doué is also recalled, like his teammates Bradley Barcola and Warren Zaïre-Emery. In the absence of Dayot Upamecano, the coach of the Blues made the decision to summon the Sevillian Loïc Badé, already called in September but ultimately forfeited. The defense is also the other theater of new features with the returns of Clément Lenglet and Lucas Hernandez and the first of Pierre Kalulu.
In the middle, no big changes. N'Golo Kanté absent, Aurélien Tchouamed will be there, like Adrien Rabiot and Manu Koné. But the great information of this list obviously remains the presence of Rayan Cherki, summoned for the very first time among the A. hoped for months by some, the future ex-Lyonnais had aroused the concern of the tricolor staff to see him spinning in the jersey of another selection (Algeria or Italy), according to The team. Author of 12 goals and 20 assists this season with OL, the whimsical midfielder of 21 years is rewarded for his excellent form. And a year from the World Cup, the timing is perfect for launching its story in blue.
The complete list of Blues
Guardians: Lucas Chevalier (LOSC), Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Brice Samba (Stade Rennais)
Defenders: Loïc Badé (Seville), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Lucas Digne (Aston Villa), Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool), Benjamin Pavard (Inter), Lucas Hernandez (PSG), Malo Gusto (Chelsea), Pierre Kalulu (Juventus), Clément Lenglet (Atlético de Madrid)
Environment: Warren Zaïre-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain), Adrien Rabiot (OM), Mattéo Guendouzi (Lazio), Aurélien Tchouameni (Real Madrid), Manu Koné (AS Roma)
Attackers: Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain), Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid), Randal Kolo Muani (Juventus), Bradley Barcola (Paris Saint-Germain), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Désiré Doué (Paris Saint-Germain), Rayan Cherki (OL)
