A surprise return to the Blues?

Who will accompany Ibrahima Konaté, Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba in the defensive sector of the French team in 2025? The Blues will resume in March in the quarter-finals of the League of Nations against Croatia, with a first leg in Split on Thursday 20 and a return leg in Saint-Denis on Sunday 23. As a reminder, the French team will begin the qualifiers of the 2026 World Cup in June in the event of elimination against the Croatians and in September 2025 if there is qualification for the Final Four of the Nations League.

After Benjamin Pavard, Clément Lenglet can very well return to the race. After Euro 2024, the national coach tried to install Wesley Fofana, but Chelsea retained him twice in three international windows (!) and the Marseille native is now injured in his hamstrings (the muscles at the back of the thigh). Loïc Badé was invited to the A (without convincing) before Pavard's return, but Lenglet could very well take his place. He is highly appreciated by Didier Deschamps as a left-handed central defender.

Lenglet absent from the Blues since 2021

Robin Le Normand's understudy at the start of the season at Atlético de Madrid, Clément Lenglet, on loan from Barça, took advantage of the 2024 European champion's head injury at the start of November to string together the Colchoneros' 10 victories in a row! The former Sevillian, 29, was excellent in La Liga and in the Champions League, against Slovan Bratislava then Getafe on Sunday. He even shook the nets twice, against Valladolid (0-5) and Copa del Rey against Cacereno. Diego Simeone can be proud to count on a player of great reliability.

A French international since 2019, the player trained in Nancy had his 15th and final selection in November 2021 when he came into play against Kazakhstan (8-0) in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. An eternity therefore. But “La Dèche” trusts this defender. He suddenly launched it in the round of 16 of Euro 2021 against Switzerland, switching to 3-5-2, for a memorable elimination on penalties (3-3, 4 tab to 5). As a left-handed center, the France team no longer has Samuel Umtiti nor Presnel Kimpembe. Benoît Badiashile is the understudy of… Fofana at Chelsea.