Didier Deschamps, the coach of the France team, revealed on Thursday May 16 the list of 25 players who will play in Euro 2024 in Germany (from June 14 to July 14). The available executives are present, including captain Kylian Mbappé, the experienced Antoine Griezmann and even goalkeeper Mike Maignan. N’Golo Kanté makes his return after almost two years of absence, while the young Bradley Barcola, 21, is also called up.
Published on: 05/16/2024 – 8:35 p.m.
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Vice-world champion a year and a half ago in Qatar, the French team is turning a little more concretely towards its new objective: the 2024 European Football Championship. For her, it is about erasing the bitter failure of 2021, with this elimination in the round of 16 against Switzerland, and doing everything to secure a third Euro on her record, after those of 1984 and 2000. As finalists of the last World Cup, the Blues are among the favorites for the coronation in Germany.
To achieve this title which is missing from his selection list, Didier Deschamps has drawn up a list of 25 players, taking into account the fitness of each. “DD” must do without Lucas Hernandez, the PSG defender, seriously injured in his knee a few days ago and unavailable for a long time.
Kanté returns after two years of absence, Barcola summoned
The French team’s reservoir is, however, significant, and Didier Deschamps and his men can still harbor high ambitions. To conquer Europe, the coach trusts Mike Maignan to keep the Blues cage; after years with Hugo Lloris in the role of number 1, the Milanese, if he is operational after some physical hiccups in recent weeks, will play his first international competition as the starting goalkeeper.
In the midfield, we find regulars like the Madrilenians Eduardo Camavinga and Aurélien Tchouaméni, the Turinese Adrien Rabiot, but also the young Warren Zaire-Emery, barely 18 years old. The Parisian, revelation of the season, already wore the Blues jersey last November. Its presence on the list is therefore not surprising. On the other hand, the coach took many observers by surprise by recalling N’Golo Kanté, who plays for Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia and had not played with the Blues for almost two years.
In attack, Didier Deschamps always calls on executives Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud and of course Kylian Mbappé, the captain of the Blues. Already present in Qatar, Randal Kolo Muani and Marcus Thuram are still there. The little “surprise” of the list is the selection of Bradley Barcola. The PSG striker, 21, has never been selected with the A until now. He is rewarded for his good performances delivered in recent months.
Euro 2024 will take place in Germany from June 14 to July 14. The Blues are in group D. They will begin their competition on June 17 in Düsseldorf against Austria, before continuing with the shock against the Netherlands on June 21 in Leipzig, and finally facing Poland on June 25 in Dortmund.
The list of 26 Blues selected
Guardians : Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Brice Samba (RC Lens), Alphonse Areola (West Ham)
Defenders : Jules Koundé (FC Barcelona), Jonathan Clauss (Olympique de Marseille), Benjamin Pavard (Inter Milan), Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich), William Saliba (Arsenal), Théo Hernandez (AC Milan), Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid)
Environments : Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid), Youssouf Fofana (AS Monaco), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain), Antoine Griezmann (Atlético de Madrid), N’Golo Kante (Al-Ittihad)
Attackers : Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain), Olivier Giroud (AC Milan), Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain), Randal Kolo Muani (Paris Saint-Germain), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan), Bradley Barcola (Paris Saint-Germain) ), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich)
