the injured, the recovered, the released… the barometer of the French team before Didier Deschamps’ list

No roster has ever raised so many questions before a major international competition. Two weeks before France’s first match at the 2022 World Cup against Australia, Didier Deschamps is not very sure. Hugo Lloris, Benjamin Pavard, Théo Hernandez, Lucas Hernandez, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Adrien Rabiot, Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe are the only ones who can say they are certain to feature in selections 23 to 26, barring a last minute accident. Players to be announced during TF1 evening news on Wednesday 9 November.

Behind him, 2022 leaves a great deal of uncertainty, exacerbated by the cascade of injuries that have engulfed the Blues. Because the packages of Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante could not be alone. Franceinfo: sports deciphers the chances of all candidates to travel to Qatar.

They still haven’t recovered from their injuries.

Raphael Varane, Karim Benzema, Presnel Kimpembe, Mike Maignan and Jules Kounde all take part in the race against the clock with varying degrees of anxiety. Didier Deschamps warned that he will only take players to the World Cup “We are ready for the first game”. For Maignan, who is suffering from a calf injury, Milan coach Stefano Pioli appeared pessimistic at a press conference on October 21 and revealed that he did not see the goalkeeper returning before 2023. No further reports have been made since then. .

As for the other four who are part of the possible starting line-up, the most worrying situation is that of Raphael Varane, who came off in tears against Chelsea on October 22. Having injured his right thigh, he will not play again with Manchester United before the start of the World Cup. He has been working on his fitness from the Blues den in Clairfontein for several days.

There wasn’t much fear around Karim Benzema, who was rested due to thigh muscle fatigue at the end of October, but the returning Real Madrid striker was not among the meringue squad to face. Rayo Vallecano on Monday. The same for Barça and Jules Koundé, although his coach Xavi was in charge a week before him “It felt like shame, not injury.”. Presnel Kimpembe, who finally returned from a seven-week absence, was not part of PSG’s triumphant trip to Lorient on Sunday. “Achilles tendon discomfort”.

They are on their way to being there

This category contains players who have collected points we find Kristofer Nkunku, who hasn’t stopped scoring with Leipzig in recent weeks (16 goals in 21 games, another double on Saturday). Those who joined the Blues last March have no reason to downgrade.

The same goes for Ousmane Dembélé, who managed to chase (12 decisive in 17 games) with Barça, who have been hampered by injuries for several seasons. In the attacking sector, Olivier Giroud continues to prove that age has no effect on his performance. The 36-year-old striker, who is just two goals shy of Thierry Henry’s French team record, has already scored nine goals for Milan this season.

Among the countless quality centre-backs that the French team has, William Saliba has undoubtedly had the best start to the year. The symbol of this resurgent Arsenal team, the Premier League leaders allowed their defense to remain impregnable against Chelsea (1-0) this weekend. The next step is to show more composure with the Blues.

They are on the ballot

Uncertainties remain depending on the system Didier Deschamps chooses and the number of players called up. Up front, Kingsley Coman, Moussa Diaby, restrained against a disappointing Bayer Leverkusen, and Wissam Ben Yedder, rarely seen as a starter in a blue shirt. But the Bayern winger has scored just one goal in the 2022-23 season and has not played a full game since August.

The absence of Pogba and Kante in the middle opens up a field of possibilities. If the coach does not review his tactical approach, he is ready to take two places and three players appear: Tchouaméni, Mattéo Guendouzi and Youssouf Fofana, who is used to playing with Eduardo Camavinga. All three may be on this list if the list expands.

Jonathan Clauss has the perfect profile to start in the right lane. If Didier Deschamps changes the system, he cannot travel to Qatar, because Koundé and Pavard can also take his position. On the other hand, Ferland Mendy and Lucas Digne (injured against Aston Villa on Sunday) will battle it out for Theo Hernandez. At Axis, many are waiting for the package to be implemented: Dayot Upamecano, Benoît Badiashile and Ibrahima Konaté.

In goal, without Maignan, he would be ready to occupy the n°2 and n°3 positions. Resurgent with Rennes, Steve Mandanda can point to his vast experience and three World Cups. Regular number three Alphonse Aréola has the trust of Didier Deschamps and is currently playing a lining role at the club at West Ham. At the age of 23, Alban Lafont represents the future and discovered the French group during the last meeting.

They apply, but they go far

Many will be disappointed as 38 players have already been called up by Didier Deschamps in 2022. In the attack, the sector is blocked. Even if they hit in the Bundesliga, Randal Kolo Muani, Marcus Thuram and Alassane Pléa should not hear their names on television on Wednesday, as will the injured Rennais Martin Terrier.

The equation is the same for a player like Axel Disasi in central defense. On the other hand, Deschamps can surprise us by changing the system. Versatile profiles would then be more relevant than Jonathan Clauss, pure flat piston. All can play on the axis and on the flank, Mohamed Simakan or Pierre Kalulu could be rewarded for starting the season.

Another surprise was the absence of Paul Pogba, the usual guardian and explosive of the French game. LThe profiles of Camavinga, Tchouaméni, Guendouzi, Rabiot and Fofana cannot make up for his lack of creativity. Three players already called up by “DD” meet this criterion, but are missing from the latest lists: Tanguy Ndombele, revived at Napoli, Nabil Fekir, who is on the move with Betis, and Thomas Lemar, who was overlooked at the beginning of the season. Atletico Madrid.