. Goalkeepers: Maignan inducted
The patience, perseverance and talent of 27-year-old Mike Maignan are rewarded with a brand new status as No. 1 goalkeeper in the France team, unsurprisingly confirmed by Didier Deschamps after the end of Lloris' career.
In conversation with the goalkeeper coach of the France team Franck Raviot, the three goalkeepers summoned by Didier Deschamps (from left to right) Mike Maignan, Brice Samba and Alphonse Areola, after a training session in Clairefontaine on March 21, 2023. © FRANCK FIFE / AFP
The AC Milan goalkeeper, called up for the first time in June 2019, missed the 2022 World Cup through injury, without his destiny being turned upside down. The coach has been preparing "Magic Mike" for months, especially in June 2022 by giving him as many matches to play as the Tottenham goalkeeper.
Behind him, the hierarchy is not yet known between Brice Samba, never summoned before but performing well at Lens, and Alphonse Areola, a regular on the French bench who plays much less at West Ham.
. Defence: contours already known
If Deschamps keeps four players in defence, their identity is hardly in doubt: Jules Koundé will keep his place on the right, Ibrahima Konaté and Dayot Upamecano will form the axial pair, Theo Hernandez will be lined up on the left.
Dayot Upamecano (L) and Ibrahima Konaté arrive at the France team rally in Clairefontaine on March 20, 2023. © FRANCK FIFE / AFP
The Konaté-Upamecano association, already seen in Qatar (against Australia at kick-off, during extra time in the final, for example), is widely favoured in the absence of Presnel Kimpembe and Lucas Hernandez, injured, and while the novice Jean-Clair Todibo and the little capped Axel Disasi have been recalled as reinforcements after the forfeit of William Saliba and Wesley Fofana.
On the right, Benjamin Pavard lost points at the World Cup, relegated to the bench after the opening match, but his call-up proves that Deschamps has not drawn a line on the Bayern Munich player, performing well at the club. On the left, the young midfielder Eduardo Camavinga retains a role of understudy, for lack of a candidate able to compete with Theo.
. Milieus: globalists re-elected
Since Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kanté, great absentees from the World Cup, remain locked in the infirmary, there is no reason to change the duo that impressed in Doha: Adrien Rabiot, in form with Juventus, and Aurélien Tchouaméni, certainly less prominent at Real Madrid, have a boulevard.
Antoine Griezmann and coach Didier Deschamps joke during a France team training session in Clairefontaine on March 21, 2023. © FRANCK FIFE / AFP
Youssouf Fofana, Jordan Veretout and Khéphren Thuram, who is this the first call-up, are additional ammunition for Deschamps.
The leader and now vice-captain, Antoine Griezmann, will live against the Dutch his 75th consecutive selection, an incredible series started in 2017.
. Attack: Giroud or new blood?
Which face(s) will the French attack have, Friday against the Netherlands, then Monday against Ireland? Around Kylian Mbappé, assured of being a starter, there is a certain vagueness that Deschamps has not yet lifted.
Olivier Giroud warms up during a France team training session in Clairefontaine on March 20, 2023. © FRANCK FIFE / AFP
In the absence of Ousmane Dembélé, unstoppable in Qatar but forfeit in March, Kingsley Coman could recover a jump seat on the side.
The big unknown lies in the position of centre-forward: is Olivier Giroud, 36, still the number one option as N.9? The coach evaded the question on Monday on the first day of the rally. "There are eleven who play, the twenty-three can start."
Behind him, Marcus Thuram and especially Randal Kolo Muani push hard.
Called in as a last-minute reinforcement for the World Cup, "RKM" showed great promise until the final, where he missed the title ball late in the game against Argentina. "I don't put an indisputable label on him but he has more arguments in his favor today than before the World Cup," Deschamps said.
The coach must decide between experience and the future, with perhaps the memory of 2018 in the back of his mind: Giroud had offered victory against the Netherlands (2-1) for the first home match played by the fresh world champions.
Probable team against the Netherlands: Maignan - Koundé, Konaté, Upamecano, T. Hernandez - Rabiot, Tchouaméni - Coman, Griezmann, Mbappé (cap.) - Giroud (or Kolo Muani)
© 2023 AFP