Didier Deschamps revealed this Thursday the list of players selected for the Nations League matches against Israel and Belgium, on November 14 and 17. The usual captain of the Blues Kylian Mbappé will miss the gathering again after a complicated period at Real Madrid. The French coach, on the other hand, chose to call on the brilliant Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier while Adrien Rabiot and N'Golo Kanté are back.
Second in group 2 and on track to qualify for the quarter-finals of the League of Nations, the French team only needs one point against Israel and Italy on November 14 and 17. A week before the first meeting organized at the Stade de France in a tense security context, Didier Deschamps revealed on Thursday the list of players called up for this international break. And it was a real shock with the non-selection of Kylian Mbappé.
Absent in October and left at the disposal of Real Madrid before taking a trip to Sweden, the striker is therefore not making his return to the Blues. If there was any doubt surrounding his presence, the French captain will ultimately be absent during the gathering in Clairefontaine.
>> Relive Didier Deschamps' press conference
Great first for Chevalier
Brilliant with Lille in Ligue 1 and the Champions League, Lucas Chevalier is rewarded for his excellent start to the season. The former Espoirs player will therefore discover the Blues on the sidelines of the matches against Israel and Belgium.
The young goalkeeper of the Dogues (23 years old) will therefore accompany the usual holder Mike Maignan and the Lensois Brice Samba with whom he remains in a small clash on the sidelines of the derby won by Losc.
Rabiot and Kanté return
For the rest few surprises in the group called by Didier Deschamps. William Saliba is there in conjunction with Ibrahima Konaté, Dayot Upamecano and Wesley Fofana. Benjamin Pavard is therefore not returning to the Blues. Back in competition with OM, Adrien Rabiot has found his rhythm and will be part of the Blues gathering in November. The injury to Aurélien Tchouaméni accelerated the return of the former Juventus player to the selection. Ditto for N'Golo Kanté who is also present.
Little used at PSG by Luis Enrique, Randal Kolo Muani continues to have the confidence of the national technician and will compete with Marcus Thuram and Christopher Nkunku at the forefront of the attack. The opportunity, perhaps, to show off in the absence of Kylian Mbappé.
The Blues list for the matches against Israel and Belgium
Guardians: Mike Maignan, Brice Samba and Lucas Chevalier.
Defenders: William Saliba, Ibrahim Conate, Dayot Upamecano, Jules Kounde, Lucas Digne, Theo Hernandez, Wesley Fofana, Jonathan Clauss.
Backgrounds: N'Golo Kanté, Adrien Rabiot, Warren Zaire-Emery, Eduardo Camavinga, Matteo Guendouzi, Manu Koné.
Attackers: Randall Colonel, Marcus Thuram, Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola, Christopher Nkunku.
