En addition to his still amazing pool of young people, Didier Deschamps can also count on a few experienced players to complete his team for the next World Cup in 2026. For the moment, Mike Maignan and Lucas Digne are the only players in their thirties expected to be starters in North America, but others want to take part in the party. In recent weeks, declarations and outstretched hands have multiplied to let the coach know that the World Cup is a unique opportunity.
Benzema ready to “help”
In an interview given to The TeamKarim Benzema announced that he was ready for a return to blue. After the imbroglio in Qatar just before the 2022 World Cup, and his departure from the group due to injury, it was felt that the dialogue had broken down again between the striker and Deschamps. Currently at Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia, the 38-year-old has opened the door to a new resounding comeback, after his absence from 2015 to 2021.
“If you tell me to go to the French team to play in a World Cup and I tell you no, I’m a liar. Me, I’m a football player. So, I play football. When they call me, I come, I play. I love football and I love winning. I like trophies. That’s what matters most to me. If I am called to the national team, I come to play football. » A statement which immediately resonated with Philippe Diallo, president of the FFF, who was not closed to this idea. “Karim Benzema is a Ballon d’Or. He was one of the top players in the world. When he says that he could be available, I think that erases some of the comments that have been made about his relationship with the France team. » It remains to be seen how Didier Deschamps appreciated this hot potato.
Giroud would not refuse
If Olivier Giroud is less explicit than his former teammate in the selection, he too is not opposed to the idea of having his last stand with the Blues under certain conditions. “For a match or a gathering, if there is a need to help, it is not my style to refuse a selection. As a favor, I could do it. We can discuss, we’ll see, but we’re not there yet. » N’Golo Kanté, for his part, did not need to send a message to the press, since he was recalled last November at the age of 34 after a year of absence.
However, should we rely so much on the veterans for Didier Deschamps? Kanté, Benzema and Giroud symbolize between them in different registers courses which command admiration with collective and individual trophies, but with the competition in the French team, these are not necessarily the first options to consider. On the attacking front, Mbappé, Dembélé, Olise, Doué, Cherki, Barcola and even Ekitike stand out. Benzema maintains a unique aura and Giroud has a special status as top scorer, but France does not have a shortage of attackers to the point of turning to them.
Pogba and Griezmann, story definitively over?
In midfield, there are fewer options, hence the return of Kanté during the last international break, but certain possibilities were not exploited by Didier Deschamps, like Boubacar Kamara, shining at Aston Villa in this first part of the season. Other young people are showing up like Warren Zaire-Emery who is back in form with PSG and especially Manu Koné who has established himself as a starter over the last few months.
If many supporters are attached to Kanté and he can provide many services, we must not forget his Euro 2024 where he was brilliant in the group stage before declining physically during the knockout matches. We can imagine the former Leicester and Chelsea midfielder in the group of 26 next summer, but in a mentoring role for certain novices in such a competition. The same goes for Paul Pogba who has still not started with Monaco despite newfound sensations. The hypothesis of his presence next summer is almost science fiction, even if he never officially wanted to hang up with the Blues.
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Another return has not yet been mentioned head-on since the book seems definitively closed: it is Antoine Griezmann, who ended his international career in September 2024. After being the most important player of the Deschamps era, the Atlético striker did not accept his downgrade during the last Euro. But his announcement being sudden, some wanted to believe that it was only a parenthesis.
For the moment, there is no indication that Griezmann could make his return. Even if he still has his contribution and spectacular goals for Madrid, there is not necessarily an urgency to bring him back, when we see the emergence and influence of Michael Olise. But in football and especially in the Didier Deschamps lists, we have learned to never say never.
