Paris (AFP)

Didier Deschamps makes his return Thursday at 14:00 (12:00 GMT) with the announcement of the Blues convened to face Albania and Andorra in Euro-2020 qualifying, in the absence of Kylian Mbappé, injured and forfeit.

The world champions are leading their group H before these two matches played at the Stade de France, on Saturday 7 and Tuesday 10 September (20.45 / 18.45), and a priori widely within their reach.

The coach will however have to dial without Mbappé, injured in the left thigh during the victory of Paris SG against Toulouse (4-0) and absent four weeks.

Another offense in attack, that of Ousmane Dembélé (left thigh also), which connects the physical glitches since his arrival at FC Barcelona.

The absence of Mbappé and Dembélé could benefit Kingsley Coman, performing with Bayern Munich, or Anthony Martial, the Manchester United striker who has already scored twice this season in the Premier League. But doubts remain around the state of health of the latter, who injured a thigh last weekend, according to the English press.

The rest of the group should not book huge surprises. One of the questions concerns a possible return of goalkeeper N.2 Steve Mandanda, 34 years old. Convincing since the beginning of the season, he saved OM against Nantes thanks to a very good match (0-0).

- Return of Lucas Hernandez? -

In defense, Lucas Hernandez, who has resumed competition with his new club Bayern Munich, after a right knee surgery, has good chances to find the Blues. His absence has been felt in recent months in the left lane, despite the benefits of interesting Ferland Mendy.

In the middle, around the usual executives Paul Pogba, N'Golo Kanté or Blaise Matuidi, Tanguy Ndombélé, interesting in his last outings, postulates for a place in the list. Moussa Sissoko or Corentin Tolisso, who has restarted with Bayern after a long injury and last season almost white, would like to be there too.

In front, Antoine Griezmann arrives with a smile, after his fanfare debut at home with Barça. He gave himself a double and a decisive pass against Betis Seville (5-2), under the eyes of Lionel Messi, always convalescent.

In Clairefontaine, he is about to find his partner Olivier Giroud. Wissam Ben Yedder (Monaco) hopes to be called again as a great bearded loner. Deschamps had summoned him at the last rally, unlike Alexandre Lacazette, who often stayed at the door of the French team.

What about Lyonnais and international Espoirs Moussa Dembélé? The striker makes a good start to the season with three goals in three games, but the places are expensive in peak.

As for the Marseillais Florian Thauvin, on the right wing, everything will depend on his physical condition, after his ankle injury.

The French team finished its season on June 11 with a broad and logical victory over the synthetic grass of Andorra (4-0). Success was essential for the Blues, to digest the slap received a few days earlier in Turkey, 2-0 in Konya.

The victory in Andorra, while the Turks lost in Iceland (2-1), also allowed the players of Didier Deschamps to return to the top of their group, with nine points, such as Iceland and Turkey, but a better difference of goals.

"The group reacted well to end this year long, tiring, weary.To finish with this victory, it's always something positive," savored then Didier Deschamps.

His players must now succeed their return to Albania and Andorra, 64th and 136th in the Fifa rankings.

© 2019 AFP