From Blues to Blues, there is only one step. Didier Deschamps has decided to draw from Chelsea’s French pool to complete the squad of the France team for the matches against the Netherlands in Amsterdam (October 13), as part of qualifying for Euro 2024, then Scotland at Villeneuve d’Ascq (October 17), in a friendly. After William Saliba on Sunday, the coach must indeed deplore two new withdrawals with Dayot Upamecano and Jules Koundé, respectively affected with Bayern Munich (3-0 victory against Fribourg) and Barcelona (2-2 in Granada) on Sunday. The first suffers from a “left hamstring injury” and the second from a “sprain of the medial collateral ligament of the left knee”.
Who to replace them, knowing that Benjamin Pavard, selected to play in the center, can play on the right even if he has “more difficulty in this position” as Deschamps indicated? Two Chelsea players, including world vice-champion Axel Disasi (25 years old, 4 caps), a professional central defender who has only appeared once since the World Cup (6 minutes against Gibraltar), but also a natural right back, Malo Gusto, aged 20.
For the former Lyonnais, this is the first call-up to A. He was initially supposed to be part of Thierry Henry’s France Espoirs team, he who enjoys significant playing time under Mauricio Pochettino (7 matches in 2023- 24 including 5 as a starter, 2 assists) since the injury of the indisputable starter on the right for the Blues, the English international Reece James. However, he missed the last two Premier League matches due to suspension after his red card against Aston Villa (0-1 defeat). A native of Décines-Charpieu, Gusto must join the France group this Monday afternoon, while Disasi is expected in the evening. Remember that it was Jean-Clair Todibo from Nice who replaced Saliba. Deschamps will most likely explain his choices at a press conference this Monday (2:30 p.m.), in Clairefontaine.
To see if Pavard will be well used as a central defender during this October gathering, as we can imagine with the selection of Gusto. A position that he appreciates and where he plays at Inter Milan, his new club. Attractive and decisive with OM this season in the right lane, Jonathan Clauss could also don the number 1 costume for an internship. Experience plays in favor of the Milanese when habit in this position pleads in favor of the Marseillais. One thing is certain: the upcoming matches against the Netherlands and Scotland represent so many opportunities to shine and score points in the run-up to the most likely big meeting in the summer of 2024 (June 14 – July 14) in Germany.
