Special envoy to Nice
The beginning of a long story. The 45,000 spectators at the Allianz Riviera will attend a premiere on Saturday evening. That of Warren Zaire-Emery, 17 years old, ready to start his career with the French team. The young midfielder, attraction of the week which began Monday at Clairefontaine, will be scrutinized on the Nice pitch against the very modest nation of Gibraltar. Didier Deschamps, unsurprisingly, decided to launch the young prodigy alongside Adrien Rabiot and Antoine Griezmann in midfield. A sign that PSG’s Titi has already passed Boubacar Kamara and Youssouf Fofana in the hierarchy of midfielders.
In defense, Mike Maignan will lead a line of four composed of Jonathan Clauss on the right, Théo Hernandez on the left and a Jean-Clair Todibo-Dayot Upamecano hinge. The Niçois is given a great chance to shine after his poor performance against Germany (2-1) last September. In an ultra-competitive gaming sector, Todibo would benefit from signing a good game with a view to the Euro. Not too difficult considering the low adversity expected Saturday evening…
Also read: Hazing, homework, head to head with Deschamps… Warren Zaire-Emery’s crazy week with the Blues
In attack, all eyes will be on Marcus Thuram, preferred to Olivier Giroud and Randal Kolo Muani. The Inter Milan striker (14 caps, 1 goal) would do well to pile up the goals and do well in the competition he is waging with his two friends in blue. Finishing the match without a goal against the 198th FIFA nation would be bad. At his side, Kylian Mbappé will be faithful to the position on the left and Kingsley Coman preferred to Ousmane Dembélé on the right.
The eleven of the Blues Maignan – Clauss, Todibo, Upamecano, T. Hernandez – Zaire-Emery, Rabiot – Coman, Griezmann, Mbappé (cap) – Thuram