The second top scorer in the history of the Blues has not been called up for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
It was an expected list. The first after the fiasco
of the Euro. Didier Deschamps on Thursday called a group of 23 players for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in Qatar against Bosnia-Herzegovina (1is September), the trip to Ukraine (September 4) and the reception of Finland (September 7). And the coach of the Blues surprised his world a little by calling four new ones, a very rare occurrence under his mandate, but also and above all by doing without the services of Olivier Giroud.
• Giroud, the big loser
A great first. Since the arrival of Didier Deschamps in 2012 as coach, Olivier Giroud was a regular at the gatherings at Clairefontaine. He had even missed only one, in October 2016, following an injury. This time, the AC Milan neo-striker will not be. But “DD” does not for all that close the door to the one he has often defended against thick and thin: “I never had a radical position for anyone. It is a sporting choice. It’s up to him to be efficient and he remains available for the Blues.»
On reading these words, Giroud still has time to reverse a trend that has been clearly unfavorable to him since May and the return of Karim Benzema. His media release, in preparation for the Euro after the match against Bulgaria, on the lack of affected balls, where he was targeting a certain Kylian Mbappé, was not to the taste of the group or its coach. The latter had also publicly reframed in an interview with The team. So many facts which today justify his absence from the France group. A page is turning for the one who will be 35 at the end of September and who is the second highest scorer in the history of the Blues (46 goals).
• The Kylian Mbappé case
And another may be opening. Rumors are rife on the future of Kylian Mbappé. The Parisian is announced with insistence on the side of Real Madrid. Negotiations are open, with a first offer of 160 million euros. A possible transfer of Bondy’s crack could disrupt Deschamps’ plans with a transfer window that will end the day before the game against Bosnia. The coach however promised that he would be accommodating: “The closing of the transfer window is Tuesday evening and it coincides with our matches. I will make sure to be conciliatory as far as possible because it is about his future.“Relaunched on a possible advice to bring to the striker,” DD “swept aside the hypothesis:”It’s his career, the decision is his. ” And the denouement seems close.
• Four new heads
This is the other surprise on this list. Among the 23 called, they are four to discover the Blues. In defense, Théo Hernandez somehow replaces his brother, Lucas, as the left side. The AC Milan player is performing well in Italy where he is entering his third season as a starter and his “Ability to be important offensively” convinced the coach. In the middle, it’s a big first for Jordan Veretout, pre-summoned in 2018, who also shines in the “Boot”. The midfielder is the conductor of AS Roma, now under José Mourinho, and his call is a fair reward after his brace on the first day of Serie A last weekend.
Another new head in the midfield, that of Aurélien Tchouaméni. The AS Monaco player delivered a very high level 2020-2021 season. Long followed by Deschamps and his staff, the 21-year-old midfielder will have the opportunity to show the extent of his talent on the international scene. Finally, the last new kid is an attacking player and is called Moussa Diaby. The Bayer Leverkusen winger comes out of a full season with ten goals and fifteen assists. The 22-year-old ex-Parisian had announced that he would scrutinize the list. It took him well. Like his three compatriots, he will surely have the chance to make his debut in blue, especially with three meetings picked up in just six days.
The list of 23 selected players
Guardians: Hugo Lloris, Mike Maignan, Steve Mandanda.
Defenders: Lucas Digne, Léo Dubois, Presnel Kimpembe, Raphaël Varane, Théo Hernandez, Jules Koundé, Kurt Zouma, Dayot Upamecano.
Midfielders: Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kanté, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Corentin Tolisso, Jordan Veretout.
Attackers: Karim Benzema, Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappé, Kingsley Coman, Moussa Diaby, Anthony Martial, Thomas Lemar.
.
