They will aim to repeat the feat of 2018. The coach of the France team, Didier Deschamps, announced a list of 25 players, Wednesday, November 9 to the 8 p.m. newspaper of TF1, to participate in the World Cup in Qatar (from November 20 to December 18).
Due to the busy schedule, FIFA had authorized qualified coaches to give an expanded list of their squad, up to 26 players. Didier Deschamps, first opposed to a larger group, after an unfortunate experience during the previous Euro, finally made 25 happy.
An environment to rethink
Among the big winners, Liverpool player Ibrahima Konaté was retained, to the detriment of defenders like Lucas Digne or Ferland Mendy. Goalkeeper Mike Maignan, barely recovered from an injury, was not selected, to the delight of Steve Mandanda, already present in Russia four years ago.
Private in the midfield of Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kanté, injured, coach Deschamps opted for a midfielder without a world champion, with Adrien Rabiot, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Youssouf Fofana, Eduardo Camavinga, and the Marseillais Mattéo Guendouzi and Jordan Veretout.
Giroud the survivor
In a duel with Karim Benzema at the forefront of the tricolor attack, Olivier Giroud was not guaranteed to participate in a new World Cup. If he had been recalled to the last gathering of the Blues, last September, Didier Deschamps doubted the ability of the Grenoble to accept a role of lining, facing the last Ballon d’Or. His qualities and his level of play demonstrated throughout the start of the season with his Milan team will have finally convinced the coach to retain him in the list of 25.
Artisan of the coronation in Russia, even if the latter had not scored any goals, he will have the opportunity, through this competition to dethrone Thierry Henry in the ranking of scorers in the France team. With 49 goals on the clock, he is now only two units behind the 98 world champion.
Changes still possible
Eleven 2018 world champions are thus included in the list, the final version of which must be sent to Fifa no later than Monday, November 14 at 7 p.m. In the event of serious injury, last-minute substitutions are still authorized until November 21, the day before the start of the match against Australia.
The France team will start its group stage on Tuesday, November 22 against the Australian Socceros. On Saturday November 26, they will meet Christian Eriksen’s Denmark and finish against Tunisia on Wednesday November 30. Fourth in the FIFA rankings, behind Brazil, Belgium and Argentina, France is one of the favorites for this World Cup in Qatar.
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The list of 25 selected players
Guardians: Alphonse Areola (West Ham), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Steve Mandanda (Rennes)
Defenders: Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan/), Presnel Kimpembe (Paris SG), Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool), Jules Koundé (FC Barcelone), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich), William Saliba (Arsenal), Raphaël Varane (Manchester United), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)
Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Youssouf Fofana (Monaco), Matteo Guendouzi (Marseille), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus Turin), Aurelien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid), Jordan Veretout (Marseille)
Forwards: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Ousmane Dembele (FC Barcelona), Olivier Giroud (AC Milan), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Kylian Mbappe (Paris SG) and Christopher Nkunku (Leipzig)
The 25 days selected by Didier Deschamps for the 2022 World Cup. / Visactu
