Paris (AFP)
After more than a year in the harbor, the "shark" Benjamin Mendy will plunge with the team of France alongside Léo Dubois and Nabil Fekir, also selected Thursday by Didier Deschamps to complete the qualifications for the Euro-2020 against the Moldova and Albania mid-November.
On the other hand, central defender Samuel Umtiti had the disappointment of not being called in this last list of the year, just as the Lille striker Jonathan Ikoné, back down with the Espoirs.
Faced with the absence of Lucas Hernandez (ankle) - in addition to those of Paul Pogba (ankle) in the middle and captain Hugo Lloris (recently operated from the elbow) in the cage--, the coach of the 2018 world champions has chose to recall "BenJ" Mendy, the sacred left-back in Russia.
The call resembles a small resurrection for the defender of Manchester City, recruited in 2017 for 58 million euros by the English club but long locked in a galley tunnel: injured right knee before the World Cup, operated left four months after , the 25-year-old has stalled.
"You missed me too much", immediately reacted the former player of Le Havre, Marseille and Monaco, whose last of the nine selections was in September 2018.
- Giroud "undergoes" his situation -
Several times in recent months, the coach has launched a few arrows to the chief ambianceur of the "SharkTeam", the nickname that Mendy gave to its partners City.
"I do not despair" that he "take better care of his body," insisted Deschamps Thursday, taking care to add: "But there, it seems to be on the right road to return to its best level."
The international return of Mendy, as probable doubling Lucas Digne, repels that of his namesake, Ferland Mendy (24 years, 4 caps), lack of playing time at Real Madrid and more seen in selection since June.
Stunned by Turkey (1-1) on October 14 in Saint-Denis, the Blues record for the last rally of the year the return of their offensive diamond Kylian Mbappé, recovered from an injury to a thigh, and that of N 'Golo Kanté, recently released from the infirmary but who has not resumed competition with Chelsea.
Worshiped also in London, but by choice of the coach, Olivier Giroud remains in the group that will face Moldova on 14 November at the Stade de France and Albania 17 in Tirana.
"He is not responsible today for his situation, he suffered," commented Deschamps. But when he comes in the selection "Olivier is an important player for us, he proves it in the field," he added immediately.
- Umhtiti demoted -
At his side in attack, include the irremovable Antoine Griezmann and Wissam Ben Yedder, fit with Monaco. Performing with Betis Sevilla, Nabil Fekir is back, unlike Anthony Martial and Ousmane Dembélé who will have to wait.
In central defense, Deschamps has renewed his doublet composed of Raphael Varane and Clement Lenglet. Umtiti passes his turn, which, for the FC Barcelona player undermined by physical glitches, is a strong sign of his downgrading in the hierarchy.
Currently, Lenglet and Presnel Kimpembe "give me more guarantees" than Omititi, which "needs to be in full possession of its means to express itself," says Deschamps.
In the lineup of Benjamin Pavard on the right, Lyonnais Dubois wins at the expense of former Monégasque Djibril Sidibé, recalled last month in the absence of the first, and who lives again in Everton.
The list of goalkeepers remains the same as in October, with Steve Mandanda leading in front of Alphonse Areola and Mike Maignan.
The Blues, on the brink of qualification, should not have too cold sweats respectively facing the 175th and 65th world nations. And if Iceland does not beat Turkey, a few minutes before France-Moldova, Deschamps will be qualified for the Euro even before the kickoff.
© 2019 AFP