Samba and Lafont in competition, Guendouzi big loser? list trends

Didier Deschamps unveils this Thursday the first list of the French team since the World Cup in Qatar. At the post of goalkeeper and in the midfield, new faces could appear.

Goalkeepers: Maignan new number one, Samba and Lafont in competition

After the international retirements of record captain Hugo Lloris and Steve Mandanda, Mike Maignan is promised the status of number one goalkeeper for the France team. He returned to competition with AC Milan against Atalanta on February 26, before continuing. For the roles of number two and number three, it is less clear.

Didier Deschamps has exchanged a lot in recent days with Sylvain Ripoll, the coach of Espoirs. There is, it seems, no question of disrupting the preparation of the Euro Espoirs scheduled for this summer. Two friendly matches are on the program: England on March 25, Spain on March 28. Illan Meslier (Leeds), born in 2000 and captain of the Hopes, should not join the castle of A immediately. Lucas Chevalier (Losc), born in 2001, will take over for the Paris Olympics.

This paves the way for Brice Samba who, despite his 28 years, seduced Franck Raviot. The Blues goalkeeping coach attended the Ligue 1 match at Bollaert between Lens and Nantes to also observe Alban Lafont. There is a match between the two to accompany Alphonse Areola, who is no longer confined to Europa League Conference matches with West Ham since the injury at the end of February of holder Łukasz Fabiański. The ability to accept an understudy role will be an important parameter in the decision made between Lafont and Samba. It will be up to the coach to establish the hierarchy at the start of the rally.

>> The trends of Deschamps’ list for defense and attack

Midfielders: Guendouzi big loser, Thuram and Koné rewarded?

Injured for the 2022 World Cup, Paul Pogba (Juventus) returned to the Juventus group on January 29. But he played very little (22 minutes against Torino, 13 against Roma). Even more problematic: he suffered a small tear in his adductors which deprived him of the meeting against Sampdoria last weekend. N’Golo Kanté (Chelsea), also forfeited this fall, is no longer injured. He resumed collective training at the end of February, without having resumed competition since.

A question exists around the Marseillais. Mattéo Guendouzi, who was in Qatar, is no longer an indisputable starter at OM. His place is in danger and he may well be the big loser on the list, while his teammate and captain Valentin Rongier has been pre-summoned for the first time in his career.

The international Espoirs Manu Koné, centerpiece of Borussia Mönchengladbach, and Khéphren Thuram, part of OGC Nice who confirms all his qualities and his versatility, interest Didier Deschamps. But these are two key players for Sylvain Ripoll.

Finally, Adrien Rabiot, in great shape with Juventus, will certainly act as boss of the midfielder of the Blues with Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid). Youssouf Fofana (AS Monaco) should also continue the adventure.