Qualifications for Euro 2024: before Didier Deschamps’ list, who will return to the Blues?


A small opening before the holidays? Didier Deschamps reveals Wednesday at 2 p.m. his list for the qualifying matches for Euro 2024 against Gibraltar and Greece, June 16 and 19, which should above all be an opportunity to see attackers Ousmane Dembélé and Christopher Nkunku again. For these two meetings a priori largely within reach of the vice-world champions, the coach of the Blues will have above all the ambition to avoid the unpleasant surprises which have too often marked these meetings at the end of the season, at the image of the calamitous results of last June (2 defeats, 2 draws).

The period is therefore not necessarily conducive to new developments for the French technician, anxious to surf on the good dynamics of March (victories against the Netherlands 4-0 and Ireland 1-0) and to take a step more towards the European Championship in Germany.

Return of Dembele?

With the likely recalls of Ousmane Dembélé, absent through injury three months ago, and Bundesliga co-top scorer Christopher Nkunku, package just before the 2022 World Cup and also on the flank in March, Deschamps will on the contrary have to do room in the offensive sector where the traffic jam awaits.

Moussa Diaby and Marcus Thuram, affected by the adductors, could pay the price unless “DD” takes the opportunity to hasten a generational renewal by dismissing veteran Olivier Giroud (36). But it would be very surprising if he also suddenly dispensed with the best scorer in the history of the Blues (53 goals), who proclaimed his desire to continue his international adventure until the Euro and has also just sent the AC Milan in the Champions League on a magnificent whim, Sunday against Juventus Turin (1-0).

A gap in the middle?

We will also have to watch for the fate reserved for Alexandre Lacazette, second gunner in Ligue 1 (27) behind captain Kylian Mbappé, even if a summons from the 32-year-old Lyonnais, whose last of 16 selections dates back to November 14, 2017 and who does not has never really shone in the France team, would be surprising since it would overshadow the new blue wave. A small breach could however be offered in the midfield with the injury of Khéphren Thuram, victim of a muscle injury to the right thigh. The Marseillais Valentin Rongier, never selected but present in the standard team of Ligue 1 at the UNFP Trophies on Sunday, could rush into it.

One thing is certain: we will have to wait to see the two 2018 world champions Paul Pogba and Ngolo Kanté again. The Juve player still does not see the end of the tunnel and injured his left thigh on May 14 with the “Old Lady” during his first tenure of the season. The Chelsea midfielder felt adductor pain in training in mid-May.

In defense, around the new hinge Ibrahima Konaté-Dayot Upamecano and the usual side Benjamin Pavard, Théo Hernandez, Jules Koundé and Eduardo Camavinga, there will be one or two places to take with the end of the season of William Saliba, Presnel Kimpembe and Lucas Hernandez, coupled with the current bad pass of Wesley Fofana, in great difficulty with Chelsea in recent weeks. We could therefore see the Monegasque Axel Disasi, called up at the last minute for the World Cup in Qatar and for the rally in March.



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