which Ligue 1 teams are affected by the Olympics?

“We can’t undress to dress the French team, even if I have a lot of affection for the France Espoirs team, or the France A team. It’s difficult for us, we have to to understand. » Florian Maurice’s statement released yesterday at a press conference cast a chill over the federation. After Real Madrid, the sports director of Stade Rennais is the first club representative in France to have taken a position with a view to the Olympic Games. A decision as courageous as it is cause for concern for the future. The one who participated in the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 with the Blues opened Pandora’s box.

The rest after this ad

He still agreed to one thing. Rennes will try to release one or two elements, but no more. “You can understand that releasing four starting players from Stade Rennais in a competition which is indeed fantastic… You also have to understand the clubs. I believe that there is a very, very big club (Real Madrid) which has been very clear and very clear on this. Obviously, we will do the best possible to be able to help the French team, but the interests must be common. Adrien Truffert, Désiré Doué, Arnaud Kalimuendo and Benjamin Bourigeaud were included in a pre-list of 50 names by Thierry Henry.

To read
Olympic Games, Rennes: the FFF surprised by Florian Maurice’s speech

The bad signal sent by Stade Rennais

The Breton club is one of the main suppliers of this French Olympic team, in which it will be necessary to retain 18 players, 4 of whom may be over 23 years old. The dream of having a competitive team for the Paris Olympic tournament (July 24 to August 9) is fading. Worse still, the specter of the Tokyo games looms where the numerous refusals of clubs to release their players had weighed down Sylvain Ripoll. Some efforts should still be made, due to the location of the competition (at home and not on the other side of the world), the prestige to be won, and the desire of the FFF to put together a team worthy of this name.

The rest after this ad

The federation can already thank Toulouse, Montpellier and OL, who, as in 2021 (Bard and Savanier had been summoned, Bertaud on the waiting list), have already given their agreement for certain elements. Pierre Sage confirmed it half-heartedly this Thursday. Guillaume Restes (18 years old) and Joris Chôtard (22 years old), or even Khalil Fayad (19 years old) could be summoned. In Lyon, the question arises especially for Rayan Cherki (20 years old), who was initially not called up by the coach for this meeting. Johann Lepenant (21), injured for a long time this season while he was with the Espoirs, is making his return. He applies too.

Ligue 1 clubs are waiting until the end of the season to decide

According to The Team, Nantes and Clermont are still thinking, but apart from Nathan Zeze (18 years old), it should not concern many people (Chrislain Matsima (21 years old) and Alan Virginius (21 years old) are respectively on loan from Monaco and LOSC). These last two teams are playing for the European places for this final sprint. Their final result will determine their decision for the Olympics. The resumption will not be the same depending on a direct qualification for the Champions League (from September), a 3rd preliminary round (August 6-7 and August 13) or a Europa Conference League play-off (August 22 and 29). Brest, Monaco, Lille, Nice, Lens and even OM and Rennes are all in this expectation.

The rest after this ad

Bradley Lock (21 years old, Brest), Kassoum Ouattara (19 years old) and Maghnes Akliouche (22 years old) in Monaco, the Niçois Kephren Thuram (22 years old), Mohamed-Ali Cho (20 years old) and Evan Nguessand (22 years old) are potentially selectable. Elie Wahi (21 years old) and Andy Diouf (20 years old) are expected to be released by RC Lens according to The Team. Quentin Merlin (21 years old) seems to be the only Marseillais who can be integrated, while LOSC is in greater demand. Lucas Chevalier (22 years old), Leny Yoro (18 years old) and Bafodé Diakité (23 years old) are all three targeted. “It will be positive if we have three players at the Olympics. More difficult for me, but for the players, it would be very positive”concedes Paulo Fonseca this Thursday.

Do not rely on foreign training

The call-ups to the Euro, a priority for the federation, will also set the pace. It’s hard to imagine PSG saying yes to Warren Zaire-Emery (18 years old) to participate in the Olympics after the competition in Germany. What about Bradley Barcola, on the other hand, whose call-up to the Euro is now a miracle? If Reims and Metz should not have players in demand, Strasbourg with Ismaël Doukouré (20 years old, already summoned to Tokyo) and why not Dilane Bawka (21 years old) and Junior Mwanga (20 years old) will have to respond to the federal summons. Théo Le Bris (21 years old) and Eli Junior Kroupi (17 years old) in Lorient also have their chance.

The rest after this ad

Thierry Henry hopes that Ligue 1 clubs will play the game, even though they have no obligation to release their protégés for a competition outside FIFA dates. When he arrived at the head of the Espoirs and the U23s, the coach aimed high, cherishing the sweet dream of calling up Tchouameni, Camavinga or another Saliba. As with Stade Rennais, Real Madrid’s decision risks creating a breath of fresh air into which foreign teams will take great pleasure in rushing. We think of Malo Gusto (20 years old) and Benoît Badiashile (23 years old) both at Chelsea, Castello Lukeba (21 years old, RB Leipzig) or even Michaël Olise (21 years old, Crystal Palace). They don’t care about the national interest. In these circumstances, the arrival of a certain Karim Benzema will be a nice surprise, if his club is willing.