Kiev (AFP)
Defender Raphaël Varane and striker Karim Benzema were placed on the bench of the Blues, replaced by Kurt Zouma and Anthony Martial holders like Kingsley Coman to face Ukraine, Saturday (8:45 p.m.) in Kiev in qualifying for the World Cup-2022, according to the compositions unveiled by UEFA.
For the first time in seven meetings, coach Didier Deschamps does not line up his attacking triangle made up of Antoine Griezmann, Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappé.
The latter is injured in a calf and forfeit, while Benzema is left on the bench.
These absences open the door to the starting lineup for Coman, established in the selection for the first time since March, and Martial, absent from the Euro for injury.
The Bavarian will evolve on the right flank, in support of the offensive duo Griezmann-Martial.
Adrien Rabiot, recalled Wednesday by Deschamps after being absent from the initial list due to a delayed resumption with Juventus Turin, also appears in the starting XI, on the left side.
The midfield is composed of Paul Pogba and Aurélien Tchouameni, who celebrates his first tenure three days after playing his first international minutes.
In the absence of Benjamin Pavard, injured, and Jules Koundé, suspended, Léo Dubois holds the position of right back.
Lucas Digne, holder against Bosnia and Herzegovina (1-1) Wednesday in Strasbourg, is renewed, on the left, like Hugo Lloris for his 131st selection in the goals of the Blues.
Kurt Zouma accompanies Presnel Kimpembe in central defense, instead of Varane.
On the Ukrainian side, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Manchester City midfielder, is suspended for the meeting, replaced by Mykola Shaparenko.
France leads Group D at kick-off, three points ahead of Finland, victorious over Kazakhstan on Saturday afternoon (1-0), and four points ahead of Ukraine.
Ukraine: Pyatov (cap.) - Tymchyk, Matviyenko, Kryvtsov, Zabarnyi, Mykolenko - Stepanenko, Shaparenko - Yarmolenko, Yaremchuk, Tsygankov
Coach: Oleksandr Petrakov
France: Lloris (cap.) - Dubois, Zouma, Kimpembe, Digne - Coman, Pogba, Tchouameni, Rabiot - Griezmann - Martial
Coach: Didier Deschamps
Referee: Slavko Vinčić (SLO)
© 2021 AFP