Between injuries to important players in defense and out-of-form executives, the coach must deal with numerous obstacles to prepare his list one month before the competition.
Didier Deschamps will announce the list of players he will bring to the euro on Thursday May 16 in Gilles Bouleau’s 8 p.m. news on TF1. A list which will include 26 names, following a decision by UEFA, to which Didier Deschamps and the FFF, through its president Philippe Diallo, were opposed. To build this list, the French coach will have to do without injured senior players, but will especially have to decide on the fate of certain players who have been out of shape for several weeks.
Hernandez package, Tchouaméni, Maignan and Coman uncertainties
Lucas Hernandez is definitely unlucky. Him, for whom the World Cup in Qatar came to an abrupt end in the eighth minute of the first match against Australia (victim of a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee). This time, it is the left knee that is affected. It was with a desperate defensive comeback attempt in the Champions League semi-final first leg against Dortmund that the Parisian defender ended his season. An injury which risks causing serious headaches for Didier Deschamps who had installed him on the left flank of the defense. Due to his versatility, Hernandez is also capable of playing as a central defender. A valuable element of the group which will be unavailable.
Two other senior players in Deschamps’ group are in worrying situations. Mike Maignan, number 1 in his position since the retirement of Hugo Lloris, is in the recovery phase. Affected at the end of April in the right adductor, he is close to a return but will still be spared this weekend at the club. He will be restored for the Euro but the French goalkeeper’s trips to the infirmary this season do not inspire confidence.
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An observation which also applies to Aurélien Tchouaméni, victim of an injury on Wednesday, in the semi-final second leg of the Champions League against Bayern Munich (2-1 Madrid). The midfielder, who was already suffering from recurring pain, gritted his teeth to take part in the midweek encounter. He left his partners at the hour mark because the pain was too intense. Result, a stress fracture of the metatarsal (left foot), right next to the fracture which had kept him away from the field for almost two months, in the fall. He will be out for three to four weeks and could be back for the Champions League final at Wembley on 1er June. But the timing looks tense and the risks of relapse are significant.
In attack, Kingsley Coman is also in a race against time to return from an adductor injury contracted a month ago. Bayern Munich announced that their player had returned to action at the start of the week but no date for his return to the field has been revealed. The player of Parisian origin who has often been absent in recent seasons is very popular with Deschamps. His absence would be a big blow.
Players in poor shape, a defensive sector that worries
These physical glitches mainly impact the defense of Didier Deschamps’ team. A sector which caused concern during the last friendly matches: four goals conceded in total in March against Germany (2-0 defeat) then against Chile (3-2 victory). An observation that can be linked to the poor form of some of the strong men of the French rearguard. And in particular two of the central defenders in recent months, Dayot Upamecano and Ibrahima Konaté. Both players lost their place as indisputable starters at the club.
The first has demoted in the hierarchy of Bayern Munich defenders, with Eric Dier often preferred to accompany Kim Min-Jae or Matthijs De Ligt. As for Ibrahima Konaté, the situation is hardly more encouraging. The Frenchman still enjoys good standing in England but his coach seems to no longer have complete confidence in him. Proof of this is that Jürgen Klopp has preferred young English hopeful Jarell Quansah (21 years old) for several weeks.
Another player in poor form, Kylian Mbappé. The star of the France team and Paris Saint-Germain has not had the same performance in recent weeks at the club. The rotation put in place by Luis Enrique, and his personal situation (he will leave PSG at the end of the season but has not yet said which club), has created a heavy climate around the genius of Bondy who seems worn out, both mentally only physically even if his statistics are good 43 goals in 46 matches played.
Reasons for satisfaction and places that are expensive
Deschamps will still have enough to build his group, with real reasons for hope, particularly in defensive positions where there will be places to take. We can note the good season of Benjamin Pavard, major player in the Italian champion title of Inter Milan, or of William Saliba, boss of the defense of the Arsenal Gunners. Théo Hernandez and Ferland Mendy offer solid solutions to Deschamps on the left side. On the right, Jonathan Clauss and Jules Koundé were more irregular in extinguishing the debate at their posts.
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In the middle, five players will fight for a starting place alongside Adrien Rabiot and Antoine Griezmann in the event of Tchouaméni’s absence, without any of them really emerging. Youssouf Fofana seems best placed in the hierarchy, although he is not having the season of his life. Eduardo Camavinga, who will probably replace Tchouaméni at the club, had his best matches of the season at left-back. Warren Zaire-Emery has lost the shine of the start of the season and is looking for a second wind. Jordan Veretout and Mattéo Guendouzi seem more likely to be substitutes.
In attack, in addition to the unstoppable Mbappé, Giroud, Thuram and Dembélé, places will be snatched up at a high price. In addition to Kingsley Coman, players are applying for a place in the 26. Christopher Nkunku, back with Chelsea after numerous injuries or Randal Kolo Muani lacking confidence with Paris are real contenders. Among the youngest, the Parisian Bradley Barcola and the Munich Mathys Tel could be the surprises on the list. To find out, go on May 16 at 8 p.m.
