Due to uncertainties about certain positions, Didier Deschamps has unveiled a list of 25 players selected to prepare for the 2022 World Cup. Raphaël Varane and Jules Koundé are well listed, unlike Mike Maignan.
Didier Deschamps has decided! It was on the set of the 20 Hours of TF1 that the coach of the Blues revealed the list of players selected to prepare for the 2022 World Cup, which begins in ten days (November 20-December 18).
The first lesson is that the coach opted for a group of 25 elements. Didier Deschamps has always shown his preference for the list of 23 names, but the many injuries among the Blues executives led him to see a little wider. Thereby, Raphaël Varane, Jules Koundé and Presnel Kimpembe are on the listand in the same case: they have not returned to competition since their injury, but should be operational for the first match of the World Cup against Australia (Tuesday, November 22).
The bad news, however, fell to the guards, where Mike Maignan, injured in the calf in recent weeks, was not retained. It is thus Alphonse Areola and Steve Mandanda who will accompany Hugo Lloris to Qatar.
On the next line, Deschamps saw wide when it comes to central defenders, notably summoning William Saliba, Ibrahima Konaté and Dayot Upamecano. On the left, on the other hand, Theo Hernandez’s understudy will be his brother Lucas, because neither Ferland Mendy nor Lucas Digne have been selected, while on the right, one of the notable absentees from the list is the piston Jonathan Clauss, frequently called up in 2022.
With Veretout, Guendouzi and Camavinga
In the middle, a sector where Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kanté will be greatly missed, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Adrien Rabiot were sure starters, while Youssouf Fofana probably won his place brilliantly during the previous rally. At their side, Deschamps opted for the Marseillais Jordan Veretout and Mattéo Guendouzi, as well as for the Madrilenian Eduardo Camavinga.
In attack, around the trio of holders Benzema-Mbappé-Griezmann, we find Olivier Giroud, a time dismissed after Euro 2020, as well as Ousmane Dembélé, Kingsley Coman and Christophe Nkunku. There was no room for Wissam Ben Yedder, or for a surprise guest (Diaby, Kolo Muani, Terrier, Gouiri…). Unless injuries force the coach to review his plans before the start of the World Cup.
The 25 players selected for the France team for the World Cup by Didier Deschamps:
Guardians: Alphonse Areola (West Ham), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Steve Mandanda (Stade Rennais)
Defenders: Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Presnel Kimpembe (Paris Saint-Germain), Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool), Jules Koundé (FC Barcelona), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich), Raphael Varane (Manchester United)
Environments: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Youssouf Fofana (AS Monaco), Mattéo Guendouzi (Olympique de Marseille), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid), Jordan Veretout (Olympique de Marseille)
Forwards: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Ousmane Dembélé (FC Barcelona), Olivier Giroud (AC Milan), Antoine Griezmann (Atlético de Madrid), Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain), Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig ).