Paris (AFP)
Weakened by an injury, Kylian Mbappé is nevertheless part of the Blues called Thursday by Didier Deschamps for the last gathering of 2020, a list where striker Marcus Thuram, son of ex-international Lilian, but not Eduardo, appears for the first time Camavinga left to care.
The coach of the world champions only changed his list by small touches compared to the previous training camp in October, where the doors of the France team had opened for Houssem Aouar, a month after the first steps of Dayot Upamecano and Eduardo Camavinga.
These three will not be in Saint-Denis on Wednesday against Finland in preparation for the last Nations League games, in Lisbon on Saturday 14 against Portugal for the big group final, then against Sweden on Tuesday 17 in the behind closed doors at the Stade de France.
Tuesday, Camavinga will blow his 18 candles away from Clairefontaine, the fault of a muscle injury which has forced him to rest for several days with Rennes.
The absences of Aouar and Upamecano, both 22, respond more to sporting logic.
The Lyon midfielder pays for his lack of consistency and is replaced by his ex-teammate Nabil Fekir, now at Betis.
As for the defender of Leipzig, he is going through a "period which is less well", according to Deschamps.
- Surprise Thuram -
If the coach does not remove it from his radar, he preferred to offer one of the 26 places in his group to Marcus Thuram, son of the former international defender Lilian Thuram, former companion of Deschamps in the blue jersey and champion of the world 1998.
Summoned to everyone's surprise seven months before the Euro, Borussia Mönchengladbach center-forward (23) has "taken to the next level" since his departure from Guingamp in 2019, "he has this ability to create differences with a lot of power, percussion ", noted Deschamps Thursday in front of the press.
His teammate Alassane Pléa (a selection in November 2018) did not have the chance to be called up, nor the central defender of Seville Jules Koundé.
The coach was faced with a complex choice concerning his star Kylian Mbappé, essential in selection but in the infirmary due to muscle discomfort.
He finally decided to summon him for this gathering of three matches in the space of a week, at the risk of provoking a diplomatic conflict with Paris SG and coach Thomas Tuchel.
"I understand the position of the coaches, there is no conflict to have with anyone", swept Deschamps, faithful to his "line of conduct" consisting in favoring the interest of the selection and that of the player .
Bondy's prodigy will most likely skip the friendly against Finland on Wednesday.
But Deschamps retains the hope of seeing him restored in Lisbon on November 14 for the decisive return leg against Portugal (0-0 in the first leg), co-leader of the group with the Blues.
- List of 26 players -
At Clairefontaine on Monday, Mbappé will meet other regulars at the "Château", such as Hugo Lloris, Raphaël Varane, Paul Pobga, N'Golo Kanté, Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud, but not his friend Ousmane Dembélé, who will have to wait at least until to March to return to the France group after two years of absence, despite its recent return to form in Barcelona.
Presnel Kimpembe will be among the defenders called up, along with Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernandez, the world champions of Bayern Munich who will come from Bavaria with winger Kingsley Coman.
For the rest, the players present in October retain their place, like defender Lucas Digne, midfielders Adrien Rabiot, Corentin Tolisso and Steven Nzonzi, and forwards Anthony Martial and Wissam Ben Yedder.
Real Madrid defender Ferland Mendy is absent.
Deschamps will now cross his fingers so that no international is injured this weekend in a club or is caught up by the Covid-19, as Mandanda, Dubois, or even Pogba have already been during previous stages.
To anticipate any last-minute package, the coach has summoned 26 players, three more than his pre-pandemic habits.
This allows Bordeaux goalkeeper Benoît Costil, in particular, to find the Blues.
© 2020 AFP