The coach of the Blues announced the absence of the Madrilenian, replaced by Lucas Digne this Monday in the French team.
The French team players were due to report to Clairefontaine before 4pm on Monday. But Didier Deschamps took the lead by announcing at 2.30pm the withdrawal of Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid), replaced by Lucas Digne (Aston Villa). After Wesley Fofana (Chelsea), who was assisted by Loïc Badé (FC Seville) on Sunday evening, this is the second withdrawal validated by the French team coach ahead of the matches against Italy, Friday at the Parc des Princes, and Belgium, next Monday in Lyon.
At 31 years old and 46 caps, the Aston Villa defender, who started on Saturday against Leicester, had not worn the Blues jersey since June 13, 2022 and France-Croatia (0-1) in the Nations League.Ferland Mendy is not available, he must respect the treatment protocol“, said Deschamps, after seeing his defender being hit in the right shin with Real Madrid, Sunday during the Liga match won against Betis Seville (2-0).
Digne will have difficulty in bidding for the 2026 World Cup
In his desire to rotate the squad between the two back-to-school matches, the boss of Les Bleus could give some playing time to the former Parisian, who does not represent the future and will have a hard time, barring a massacre, applying for a place at the 2026 World Cup. Behind, Théo Hernandez, the incumbent, he will nevertheless have the opportunity to pick up a few minutes and a 47th selection.
