The French team began its gathering on Monday at Clairefontaine with a view to the two matches against Israel and Italy in the League of Nations. Final meeting in 2024 for the vice-world champions.
Who are the major absentees from this sequence?
Unless you live on another planet, it's difficult to miss the absence of Kylian Mbappé, not called up by Didier Deschamps. However, the usual captain of the Blues plays with Real Madrid, has a series of starts, but will not see Clairefontaine this week. The reason? The coach, annoyed by his absence in October, wanted to reaffirm his position as boss of the selection and intends to establish his authority. Disappointing in September, on and off the field, Mbappé, who wanted to come according to his coach, is thus excluded.
Also note the absence of Youssouf Fofana in midfield. The Milanese, who would not have had the best attitude during the last rally, sees Guendouzi, Zaire-Emery or even Koné pass him by, without forgetting Kanté, Rabiot and Camavinga. For the rest, few major absences to report apart from profiles still considered too tender (Akliouche, Millot, Ekitike).
What is the issue of this gathering?
The situation is clear. Second in their Nations League group, the Blues (2nd with 9 points) aim to qualify for the quarter-finals of the competition. To do this, we must finish in the first two places with the arrival of Israel and the trip to Italy on Sunday. A victory at the Stade de France on Thursday, coupled with a misstep by the Italians (1st with 10 points) who will challenge the Belgians (3rd with 4 points), and the French team could show up in Milan as leader. The quarter-finals of the Nations League will take place in March, in a two-legged match, and if the vice-world champions qualify, they will play the Final Four in June. As a reminder, the further the Blues go in this competition, the later they will start qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
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What does Didier Deschamps expect from the last gathering of the year? And which captain will he appoint?
A qualification (see above) and a form of continuity with a group in reconstruction. Satisfied by the attitude of his troops in October (victory against Israel 1-4, and against Belgium, 1-2), with a reshuffled squad, Didier Deschamps intends to take advantage of this last gathering of the year to create emulation , observe the behavior of newbies and detect a new locker room balance. The goal is to tighten the France group in 2025 to focus on qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
With the retirements of Giroud and Griezmann since the Euro, the difficulties of Mbappé, the coach knows he is faced with the challenge of creating a new group. With a different form of leadership, ambitious personalities and different technical profiles, there are numerous projects. But the task is essential in view of the meeting in the USA, Canada and Mexico. For the role of captain, the armband should go to N'Golo Kanté.
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What elements are highly anticipated?
With the departures of the captains (Giroud, Griezmann) or the absence of certain executives (Tchouaméni), some have every interest in showing themselves and scoring points if they want their napkin ring with the Blues in the months to come. To “replace” Griezmann, the profile of Michaël Olise is rumored. Ultra-talented, the Munich player, disappointing last month, must do more, particularly in creativity, to settle down. He has the qualities, it’s up to him to have the state of mind. In midfield, Mattéo Guendouzi, author of a good sequence in October, will have to be up to standard if the coach calls on him. There are places to be taken.
In attack, with the retirement of Giroud, no attacker broke away. Randal Kolo Muani, author of a double in Belgium a month ago, but replacing at PSG, took the lead. Marcus Thuram (27 caps, 2 goals), if he starts, cannot miss the opportunity to shine. Time is running out. Christopher Nkunku, lacking playing time at Chelsea, shone on his return with a goal scored against the Israelis. It's up to him to kiss. Attractive with PSG and top scorer in Ligue 1, but disappointing in the Champions League, Bradley Barcola has a highway in front of him on the left side with the absence of Mbappé. It would be stupid not to take advantage of it. Profiles like those of Manu Koné, Benjamin Pavard or Lucas Chevalier, to varying degrees, are worth watching.
Why won't the return of the Blues be a big celebration?
Because the current context does not lend itself to it. Returning to the Stade de France for the first time since June 2023, due to the work and the Olympics in the Saint-Denis venue, the Blues host Israel. Sportingly, the one-night opponents don't make anyone dream and appear in the 2nd international division. Another element, after the very disappointing Euro in terms of play (but a success in terms of results with a semi-final) and the cessation of certain executives (Giroud, Griezmann), this French team is less dreamy. Add to that the absence of the team's only star, Kylian Mbappé, and the reasons to come to the Stade de France on a weekday evening are not legion.
Other elements, and not least, the security context around this meeting. With the conflict in the Middle East being exported to Europe, the presence of 4,000 police officers and even the threats hovering over this meeting scheduled almost nine years to the day after the attacks of November 13, 2015, nothing is left to chance by the authorities. As we announced in Le Figaro, only 15,000 to 20,000 people will be present in Saint-Denis on Thursday evening. The worst attendance for a Blues match at the Stade de France.
