Didier Deschamps revealed his last list of the season on Wednesday. This one does not include any surprises, but records two major returns. As revealed in our columns on Tuesday, Barcelona striker Ousmane Dembélé has been recalled, like his Leipzig counterpart Christopher Nkunku.
For the rest, it’s classic: the satisfactions of the last few months, such as defenders Upamecano and Konaté or striker Kolo Muani, are there. In the same way as Olivier Giroud, the best director in the history of the Blues (53), still faithful to the post at 36 years old. Among the finalists in Qatar, in addition to Lloris, Varane and Mandanda who have retired from international duty, only the Marseillais Guendouzi and Veretout have not been recalled.
The list of 23
Guardians: Alphonse Areola, Mike Maignan, Brice Samba.
Defenders: Axel Disasi, Wesley Fofana, Theo Hernandez, Ibrahimovic, Jules Kound, Ferland Mendy, Benjamin Pavard, Dayot Upamecano.
Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga, Youssouf Fofana, Antoine Griezmann, Adrien Rabiot, Aurélien Tchouaméni.
Forwards: Kingsley Coman, Ousmane Dembele, Olivier Giroud, Randal Kolomuani, Kylian Mbappe, Marcus Thuram and Christopher Nkunku.
Even if 19 of the 23 players selected were at the World Cup, it is a rather young group, overall, that Deschamps chose for the qualifying matches of Euro 2024 against Gibraltar, June 16 in Faro ( Portugal), then Greece three days later at the Stade de France. For now, the vice-world champions are in first place in Pool B with two successes against the Netherlands (4-0), then Ireland (1-0) in as many matches played.
New chance for Wesley Fofana
Unavailable in March due to a physical glitch in the thigh, Ousmane Dembélé is therefore reconnecting with the thread of his international history (35 caps, 4 goals). Returning to competition only at the end of April against Betis, he has since gained some playing time with FC Barcelona with two starts against Real Sociedad on May 20 (1-2) then Mallorca eight days later with (3-0, one assist). His last appearance with the selection dates back to the World Cup final against Argentina where he had quickly sunk to the point of being replaced before the break by Kolo Muani. In an interview with Telefoot this Sunday, Dembélé returned to this episode which he considers as « the hardest » of her career. “We had to react and the coach did well to react like that,” he adds..
Nkunku, he had to give up the World Cup after a knee injury contracted in training on the eve of the departure to Qatar. A few months later, a small muscle tear in the left thigh contracted against Dortmund, on March 3, had prolonged his distance from the Blues.
Note, finally, the presence in the group of Ferland Mendy (9 selections) and Wesley Fofana. The first had not appeared since the fall of 2022. As for the second, already selected in March, he had then declined his first summons for a problem with the hamstrings of the right thigh. The former Saint-Etienne has hardly appeared to his advantage in recent weeks with Chelsea, but the staff are convinced of his potential and consider it useful to offer him a ten-day meeting in order to take his bearings and store up a little experience. . The internationals will be reunited from June 9 in Clairefontaine.
