Goalkeepers: a not surprising trio
French team
Giroud, necessary and indispensable
10 HOURS AGO
It is basically the most stable sector of the Blues. Hugo Lloris remains unstoppable and is just five internationals away from equaling Lilian Thuram and his 142 picks. Behind him, the impeccable Mike Maignan took second place after the European Championships in place of Steve Mandanda, who was passed by Pau Lopez in Marseille. Behind Lloris and Maignan, net advantage to Alphonse Aréola, who has the huge advantage in Didier Deschamps’ eyes of being a good third goalkeeper, an ungrateful role, but which the former Parisian took on perfectly at the 2018 World Cup. Can he be displaced? And by whom? Alban Lafont has had an excellent season with Nantes, but he starts from afar. As for Benoit Costil, given his situation at the club …
Hugo Lloris and Aurélien Tchouaméni / France – Ivory Coast
Credit: Getty Images
Defenders: the joker Saliba, the beautiful Clauss card
Today, it is undoubtedly in the position as central defender that Didier Deschamps has the greatest reservoir depth. Inevitably, there will be breaks, especially if the coach, who since the end of the euro, chooses only five and not six to double the three positions. Raphaël Varane, Lucas Hernandez, Jules Koundé, Presnel Kimpembe and Benjamin Pavard are almost guaranteed these. William Saliba owes only his presence in March to Pavard’s package. Despite his good copy, Marseillais is a joker today. But he took over Kurt Zouma and Dayot Upamecano, away from the Blues for various reasons.
Clauss, how can you whistle a player from the French team?
Middles: Guendouzi in the right carriage?
Who will be the fifth? Mattéo Guendouzi has a fantastic season in Marseille. He called for the first time in 2019 and had not played against Finland – France in November last year. He then entered Marseille on Friday and Lille on Tuesday. Result: an assist and a goal for good. If all goes well for him, he will become part of the party in Qatar. Corentin Tolisso, undermined by physical worries, or Jordan Veretout, who is not convinced, will have to whip. There is still the case of Eduardo Camavinga. If he bursts the screen at Real in the coming months …
Big debate on Giroud and Lloris, Tchouaméni MVP: Blues’ notes reported
Attackers: The Giroud case, the Dembélé hearing
Antoine Griezmann, Karim Benzema, Kylian Mbappé, Kingsley Coman, Wissam Ben Yedder, Olivier Giroud, Moussa Diaby, Christopher Nkunku, Ousmane Dembelé, Nabil Fekir, Anthony Martial, Marcus Thuram.
If DD goes without, Wissam Ben Yedder, Christopher Nkunku, Anthony Martial, even Marcus Thuram have a chance, as no header clearly exceeds the point, even if the Leipzig striker’s season should give him an advantage. In Griezmann’s undergraduate studies, Diaby has always shown good dispositions since the fall. He is ahead of Fekir despite Sevilla’s current form. There is still one particular case that can not be classified: Ousmane Dembélé. The main victim of a 3-5-2, where it is very difficult to get a place for him, the Barcelonans remain a huge talent, appreciated by the group and Didier Deschamps. Formally, its absence is difficult to justify. But where and instead of whom? This is one of the questions that needs to be answered.
Mbappé, it’s unreal: “At his age, Henry had only scored 8 goals”
Friendly matches
Mbappé, it’s unreal: “At his age, Henry had only scored 8 goals”
ONE DAY AGAIN
Friendly matches
“Is it conceivable to go to the World Cup without Giroud, but with Ben Yedder and Nkunku?”
ONE DAY AGAIN