Blues – World Cup – Giroud, Coman, Clauss: A successful gathering and the list of 23 is emerging

They were 26 at the euro. How many will come to the World Cup? Currently it is 23 because FIFA has not moved the lines. Will she? It’s not impossible. And for the Blues, this would not be a problem, as Didier Deschamps flirts more with “overflow” than “not enough”. After two victories against Côte d’Ivoire (2-1) and South Africa (5-0) and a generally successful competition, the list for the World Cup is getting thinner. If the World Cup took place in June, we would already have a pretty accurate idea of the lucky ones.

Goalkeepers: a not surprising trio

French team

Giroud, necessary and indispensable

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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.

To the right, behind a Kingsley Coman who has switched to a stamp, Jonathan Clauss has given guarantees, but he would be inspired to taste the very high level of switching club this summer. His lead over Léo Dubois and Nordi Mukiele is not yet final, although Lensois seems to be the one who best masters all the demands of this very special position. To the left, Théo Hernandez is immovable. Lucas Digne has continued to prove his reliability for three years. Although Ferland Mendy remains a competitor of choice, the madrilenian has a gap to fill today.

Clauss, how can you whistle a player from the French team?

Middles: Guendouzi in the right carriage?

Without a doubt the clearest gaming sector with the goalkeepers. Essentially, we know them: Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kanté will be on the plane to Qatar, except for one other physical mistake that we do not want them to. They must be placed under glass for eight months. Behind the two world champions is another duo: Adrien Rabiot, who has become a must on Didier Deschamps’ lists. And the second revelation of the season with Théo Hernandez, Aurélien Tchouaméni. The Monegasque, who scored in Marseille against the Ivorians (2-1), is a potential starter if ever …

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.

It’s hard to be sure. Apart from the four essentials (Benzema, Mbappé, Griezmann, Coman), Didier Deschamps can hesitate until the end. Olivier Giroud, who is still a double scorer, may not leave the list from a strictly sporting point of view, but is he ready to accept doubles as a player in Qatar? Much of the offensive sector depends on the answer to this question.

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.

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