N’Golo Kanté continues matches in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr. However, the person concerned will not be in Didier Deschamps’ selection this Thursday.
It’s been 16 months since N’Golo Kanté last played for the French team. Deprived of the 2022 World Cup due to injury, the metronome of the Blues, world champions in 2018, has not played under the tricolor tunic since June 3, 2022 and a Nations League match lost against Denmark at the Stade de France (1- 2).
Once again in full possession of his means, the former Chelsea Blue has been playing matches in recent weeks with the Saudi club Al-Nassr. And yet it is without him that Didier Deschamps’ selection will face the Netherlands on October 13 in Amsterdam in the Euro 2024 qualifiers, then Scotland four days later in a friendly match.
A return, or even two, despite everything
In addition to Aurélien Tchouaméni, Adrien Rabiot and Eduardo Camavinga, Youssouf Fofana and Boubacar Kamara will complete the list of midfielders selected this Thursday by the boss of the Blues, like a month earlier to face Ireland (2-0 victory) and the Germany (1-2 defeat). And the horizon is all the more murky for “NG” as a certain Warren Zaire-Emery is pushing hard behind to join the A – he who will be left at the disposal of the Espoirs this month again.
If there is a return to the French team this week, it is that of Ibrahima Konaté in defense which will be ratified. The Liverpool player should be reinstated at the expense of Jean-Clair Todibo or Axel Disasi – the latter two being threatened by the potential return of Jonathan Clauss rather to his advantage since the start of the season in the right lane of the Marseille rearguard. Such a return would indeed push Benjamin Pavard or Jules Koundé into an axial position.
