For his first list of the year, the coach on the other hand left aside Léo Dubois, Dayot Upamecano or Ousmane Dembélé for the meetings against Côte d'Ivoire and South Africa, March 25 and 29 in Marseille. and Lille.

Frenchman Christopher Nkunku with RB Leipzig against Greuther Fuerth in the Bundesliga on March 13, 2022 in Fuerth Christof STACHE AFP/Archives

World champions Presnel Kimpembe, Raphaël Varane and Paul Pogba, absent in November through injury, are returning to a list deserted by Ferland Mendy, Corentin Tolisso and Thomas Lemar, stranded in the infirmary.

The doubts that have arisen around Karim Benzema, who was injured on Monday with Real Madrid, are about to be lifted.

"He has a small problem which shouldn't be serious. I hope everything will go well, even if there will be the possibility of managing" his playing time, Deschamps said.

Dembele not convened

The most prolific French striker of the season is one of the 23 players called up along with his attacking partners Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappé.

French striker Karim Benzema with Real Madrid against PSG in the Champions League on March 9, 2022 at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid GABRIEL BOUYS AFP/Archives

The latter will find a former teammate, Christopher Nkunku, at Clairefontaine on Monday.

At 24, the player trained at PSG is called up for the first time, thanks to a thunderous season with RB Leipzig where he piled up 26 goals in all competitions.

"In terms of goals and assists, he has very good statistics, but his register has evolved, today he is almost central, second striker, in a system with a lot of freedom, being close to the goal. His use will be in that sector," said Deschamps about the former Espoir (6 caps in 2018), player of the future preferred to Olivier Giroud (35), who seems to be moving away from the Blues.

On the left side of the attack, Moussa Diaby (Bayer Leverkusen) retains his place in the group despite the return to the fore with Barça of Ousmane Dembélé, not summoned.

In midfield, the irremovable N'Golo Kanté and Paul Pogba are accompanied by Adrien Rabiot, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Mattéo Guendouzi.

Defender Jonathan Clauss with RC Lens against Angers in Ligue 1 on February 27, 2022 at the Raymond-Kopa stadium in Angers JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER AFP / Archives

Upamecano in trouble

In defense, Deschamps records the returns of Kimpembe and Varane, absent at the end of last year through injury.

Jules Koundé and Lucas Hernandez are also there, but not Kurt Zouma, in turmoil since the broadcast in February of a video where he mistreated his cat.

Central defender Dayot Upamecano, holder in the two matches of the Blues in November, pays for his bad pass with Bayern Munich.

He is not on the list, like Lyon defender Léo Dubois, dismissed in favor of Clauss.

At 29, the Lensois right-back will discover Clairefontaine and the France team for the first time, he who has never known the young selections and pierced late at high level.

French midfielder Paul Pogba with Manchester United against Southampton in the Premier League on February 13, 2022 at Old Trafford stadium in Manchester Oli SCARFF AFP/Archives

Finally, behind the holder Hugo Lloris and his lining Mike Maignan, Deschamps opted for Alphonse Areola as third goalkeeper, as in November, again leaving aside the experienced Steve Mandanda (36).

The substitute doorman has "less playing time" at West Ham but he has "experience" with the Blues, with whom he won the World Cup in 2018, replied Deschamps.

The Nantes native Alban Lafont, "in progress", will have to "maintain what he is achieving" to claim the France team.

© 2022 AFP