In his list of eighteen players selected for the Olympic Games, Thierry Henry will have the right to retain three players over 23 years old. Many names have circulated so far, those of Kylian Mbappé, Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud or Raphaël Varane, but the coach still does not know who he can count on because the final decision to make the players available of nations belongs to the clubs with which the players are under contract. And only to them.
Real Madrid have already officially informed the French Federation that their players will not be released for the Olympics, which should deprive Kylian Mbappé of his Olympic dream, if he joins Real this summer, as is likely. “Everyone wants to come, but whether they will be able to come is another debate (…) We have to discuss and probe everyone a little, we have to plan for a lot of situations” , the coach worried on Monday. And when asked what positions he would like to take from veterans, Thierry Henry knows. “I already know the positions, yes. But I don’t know the players. What positions? It will remain secret. » Secret but predictable, it is in front that football is won and it is not for nothing that Thierry Henry dreams of Kylian Mbappé.
“Why not, of course, it could be great”
Karim Benzema on his possible participation in the Olympics
In the probable event that Kylian Mbappé is not selected, could Karim Benzema be part of the 18? The question was asked Tuesday at the 2022 Ballon d’Or by our colleagues from L’Équipe du Soir. And his answer is formal. “The Olympics? Why not, of course, it could be great! » Karim Benzema retired from international football the day after the 2022 World Cup final, lost by the Blues to Argentina. Injured just before the competition, the attacker did not take part and had followed the journey of his former partners from afar. He played his last match with the France team on June 13, 2022, during a Nations League match against Croatia (0-1).
Since the start of the season and under contract until June 2026, Karim Benzema, aged 36, has been playing with the Saudi club Al-Ittihad, whose last Championship match will take place on May 27. This season, Karim Benzema, who did not play the last three Championship matches due to back pain, has scored twelve goals and provided seven assists in 23 matches with his club. Average statistics in a championship of this level for a player of his caliber. What is his current form and level, and what could his performance be during the Olympic tournament? This is one question among others, such as whether Thierry Henry can be sensitive to the enthusiasm of this unofficial candidacy?
Around a hundred players over 23 years old selectable
Tuesday evening, the coach did not respond to our requests. But in the U23 entourage, we consider that the 2022 Ballon d’Or is subject to the same hazards as the others: the desire of his club to release him for the Olympic deadline and his sporting level when the list is published , at the end of May. To date, the ex-Madrilenian is one of around a hundred active players over the age of 23 eligible for selection, which does not yet make it a subject of debate within the Bleuets staff. Henry will probably have the opportunity to give his opinion on Benzema on Thursday during his next press conference, on the eve of the reception of the Ivory Coast in Châteauroux.
2024-03-19 22:00:21
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