Last call before the big departure. Before choosing his group to play Euro 2024 in Germany, Didier Deschamps is entitled to one last gathering, in March, with friendly matches planned against Germany and Chile. But the national coach will not really be able to carry out a broad review of the squad, due to numerous absences due to injuries. If we compare to the last selection, dating from November, three men are already unavailable (Boubacar Kamara and Kinglsey Coman are long-term injured, Adrien Rabiot was recently affected with Juventus Turin).
To these, we must add Wesley Fofana and Christopher Nkunku. The latter, hit again in the thigh, should be too tight for this gathering, which will serve as the ultimate life-size test. It’s not just injuries that are poisoning the life of the national coach. A careful observer of the performances of his men, Deschamps was able to observe certain missteps. We think for example of Dayot Upamecano, in difficulty at Bayern, of Randal Kolo Muani, carried around in all positions at PSG and far from being essential, of Jean-Clair Todibo and Kephren Thuram, not very lively with OGC Nice or again Mike Maignan, a little less decisive with AC Milan.
Opportunities for some
For the friendlies against Germany and Chile, Deschamps will therefore have to clarify certain cases, to avoid knots in the brain. What about the right side, where neither Jules Koundé, who continues to play in this position with FC Barcelona, nor Jonathan Clauss, whose attitude was called into question in Marseille, have really convinced? There are few alternative solutions, with Malo Gusto proving as inconsistent as Chelsea in the Premier League so far and Sacha Boey failing to take advantage of his move to Bayern Munich, even picking up an injury recently.
What about the midfield, where places can be taken behind the essential Tchouameni, Camavinga, Rabiot and Griezmann (incorporated in the middle by Deschamps)? Mattéo Guendouzi, who has become a starter at Lazio Rome, can hope for a folding seat, while Fofana scored points during the last rally. Finally, in attack, the absence of Coman could open the door to Bradley Barcola, sparkling with PSG for a few weeks before dropping a tone recently.
