Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines (France) (AFP)

The Blues have resumed Monday the path of Clairefontaine to prepare the reception of Albania and Andorra in qualifying for the Euro-2020, a return to classes dried by Paul Pogba, last minute package and replaced by Espoir Mattéo Guendouzi.

The first rally of the season started under the sun of Yvelines, where the Blues arrived in the afternoon, but the clouds continued to accumulate above the head of Didier Deschamps.

Already hit by a multitude of packages, from Kylian Mbappé, N'Golo Kanté, Ousmane Dembele or Tanguy Ndombele, the coach had to compose Monday afternoon with that of his world champion Paul Pogba, irremovable pillar of the midfielder tricolor.

The Red Devil "has an ankle problem, he is in the process of passing exams in Manchester, I'm waiting for results," Deschamps told a press conference shortly before the announcement fell. "If it were not available, I would advise".

The Basque technician did not go very far because in Clairefontaine, there was already Guendouzi, present in the federal base camp with the Hope of Sylvain Ripoll!

At 20, the midfielder Arsenal (9 selections in Espoirs) will discover the Castle of the great team of France, its stars Hugo Lloris, Blaise Matuidi and Antoine Griezmann, and his high intensity training, from Monday evening.

- "Dementia calendars" -

If the former player from Lorient, arrived in the summer of 2018 in London where he is now titular, will necessarily smile, it is rather the soup to the grin on the side of Deschamps.

"When you are international and you play the major competitions, you chained and at a time the physical is subject to such rates ... At one time it is one, at one time it is the other. There I do not hide that I have many at the same time, I would have done well, "blew the coach, denouncing the" deadly schedules "of footballers.

Saturday, Aymeric Laporte threw in the towel, out on stretcher after a right knee injury with Manchester City.

Already, "DD" had to change his plans and recall Samuel Umtiti, confined to a replacement role with Barça, where Clément Lenglet has stuck his place in recent months ... as in the France team.

"+ Sam + returns with us even if his situation has not changed" in Catalonia, "but he is in good condition", according to the boss of the Bleus who has nevertheless recognized "a small concern for rhythm" in the central defender of 25 years.

The fate seems in any case to bait on Laporte, the defender of the Citizens often snubbed by Deschamps despite performances noted with the double champion club of England. He had been asking for more than two years to come back in France team, his last convocation going back to March 2017.

"Very happy to be called to the National Team! It proves that everything comes to those who can wait," enthused the former player Athletic Bilbao after seeing his name finally ticked in the list of technician.

- Hernandez back -

If Laporte will have to be patient again, this will not be the case of Ikoné, called for the first time among A to 21 years.

The Lillois benefits from the package of Kylian Mbappé on the right wing, but also from the absence of strikers Florian Thauvin, Ousmane Dembele or Anthony Martial, all injured or in the recovery phase.

The former international Espoirs will of course want to convert his interim into long-term commitment and he will have to convince the coach, who has already praised "his specific qualities of speed and provocation", as his "efficiency" as smuggler and scorer.

"He is a little on the reserve, (...) he will have stages to cross and he will cross one with us coming here," said Deschamps, inviting him to focus on his game above all else. "It's a + 23rd + supposed to bring us more on the two matches that await us."

What awaits the Blues is Albania Saturday and Andorra Tuesday, September 10, two games at the Stade de France to restart the qualifying race for Euro-2020. Before the restart, they are ahead of group H, along with Turkey and Iceland but with a better goal difference.

"We are three teams to nine points, there we will play Albania which has six points and is still in the game," said Deschamps, always anxious to keep his players under pressure.

He can count on the return of his left side Lucas Hernandez, operated a knee in April and absent from the Blues since last autumn. Finally good news in this black series.

© 2019 AFP