The coach of the Blues Didier Deschamps Thursday delivers its list to face the Netherlands and Uruguay with the possible return of the striker Anthony Martial and big uncertainties in defense, because of the wounds of Samuel Umtiti, Raphael Varane and Lucas Hernandez .
The coach of the Blues Didier Deschamps Thursday delivers its list to face the Netherlands and Uruguay with the possible return of the striker Anthony Martial and big uncertainties in defense, because of the wounds of Samuel Umtiti, Raphael Varane and Lucas Hernandez .
The French team, leading their League of Nations group, needs a draw or a win in Rotterdam on November 16 to secure their ticket for the final stages of June. It will welcome in the wake of Uruguay at the Stade de France, November 20 in friendly.
A martial air?
In attack, Anthony Martial, who has not tasted the Blues since March, can legitimately believe in his chances. At Manchester United, the 22-year-old has gone on to a resounding performance - with five goals in the last four days of the Premier League - and is complimented by his teammates, including Nemanja Matic: " If he reaches his highest level, he can be one of the best players in the league, sometimes I feel like he does not realize how good he is. "
In Blue, despite a good game against Germany in November 2017 friendly (2-2), Martial has never completely convinced Didier Deschamps, who lamented his "tendency to be a little relaxed". Martial and Alexandre Lacazette " were good against Germany but it's still a match, and there were fewer there, " the coach said, explaining their absence for the World Cup.
What about Lacazette? He too is in a very good time with Arsenal. Only problem, unless he changes his plans, Deschamps explained in the past that he could use Olivier Giroud or Kylian Mbappé point and he had no reason to stack the players in this position. Conversely, on the left wing, Martial, 18 selections, can benefit from the absence of Thomas Lemar, injured in the thigh and probably unavailable.
DIY defense
For the decisive match in the Netherlands, Didier Deschamps will have to tinker in defense. Always injured in the knee, Samuel Umtiti is out of the game. Raphaël Varane, addicted, has just returned to the race but was not in the Real Madrid group for the Champions League this week and is unlikely to be awarded for the Blues. On the left side, Lucas Hernandez suffers from a muscle injury in his right thigh and should also miss this rally.
In short, the team of France may be deprived of three of its holders at the World Cup. At the previous rally, Deschamps had already asked Kurt Zouma and Mamadou Sakho to compensate for the absence of Samuel Umtiti and Adil Rami. This time, Rami is on foot but in difficulty with Marseille.
And there remains at least a place to grab, that eye three young defenders: Aymeric Laporte, Clément Lenglet and Abdou Diallo.Laporte, whose last meeting in France team back in March 2017, is performing in Manchester City but has complicated relations with Deschamps and the Blues. The 24-year-old defender was surprised several times not to be called in selection and had supported Adrien Rabiot when the midfielder, not selected for the World Cup, had publicly criticized the coach.
Aged 23, international Espoirs Clément Lenglet is becoming an increasingly reliable defender at FC Barcelona, as proved his performance in the clasico de Liga against Real Madrid (5-1) and his name has already returned several times before the lists of the Blues. As for Abdou Diallo (22), captain of the Espoirs, he signed a very good start to the season with Borussia Dortmund. But has recently injured the adductor and has been spared in the Champions League.