World champions France will face Iceland in the Euro 2020 qualifiers with a turbulent attack with the injury of Killian Mbappe, the slow start of Antoine Griezmann with Barcelona and the absence of Olivier Giroud from the starting line-up of Chelsea.
Despite playing for 18 minutes with Chelsea since the last team, due to exposure to the virus and the strong competition in London, Giro was summoned by coach Didier Deschamps insisting on giving players who are in difficulties with their clubs the opportunity to appear internationally.
But the 33-year-old former Arsenal player, who has 93 caps, has not been fit. "It's about rhythm," he said. "Last year he had enough time to play, but now it's not physically enough. "He can't reach the highest level if he doesn't get the chance to play."
Days before the confrontation, the French federation announced the absence of 20-year-old Mbappe, because he had not recovered from a thigh injury. He has one international tournament, dating back to November 2018, against Uruguay.
Although he was substituted last week with Barcelona, at a slow start after coming from Atletico Madrid for 120 million euros, Griezmann, 28, remains a cornerstone of Deschamps's attack.
"There is no question of Griezmann, he has just arrived," commented his Barcelona team-mate, international defender Clement Langlet, to a team "playing differently." He has scored three goals so far.
Wissam Ben Yedder has the opportunity to take advantage of this turmoil to enter the cocktail line-up. the past.
But the France squad includes many stars ready to make up for the absence, especially Bayern Munich player Kingsley Koeman, who received great acclaim from Deschamps, after scoring three times in two games, to Jonathan Icone, who scored and played a decisive pass at the beginning of his international career.
Competition is strong in Group H between France, who have won five to lose against Turkey with equal points, while Iceland are third, three points behind the leaders, after the recent surprise loss on the land of Albania, which beat Turkey in a strong match.