What is the French team’s recovery program? Two meetings expected for the vice-world champions in this September start: the reception of Ireland (8:45 p.m.) Thursday evening at the Parc des Princes as part of the qualifications for Euro 2024, then the trip to Dortmund on Tuesday 12 with a friendly against Germany (8:45 p.m.). The whole of the France group will be present at Clairefontaine from Monday noon with a light session on the program from 5:30 p.m. for the elements that will have played little this weekend. Didier Deschamps will launch the sequence with his usual press conference at 2:45 p.m. With Thursday’s meeting, Kylian Mbappé’s partners will only have two “real” leg workouts on Tuesday and Wednesday. A habit for selection football.
Who are the present and … the major absentees from the list? The list unveiled on Thursday did not reveal, as announced by Le Figaro, no surprises. No rookie launched but it should be noted the expected return of Lucas Hernandez, titular and attractive with Paris SG since the start of the season, or the presence of the usual executives (Mbappé, Griezmann, Giroud, Coman, Tchouaméni, Rabiot, Pavard, Theo Hernandez, Upamecano…). Injured with Liverpool, Ibrahima Konaté was replaced by Jean-Clair Todibo on Sunday evening. Who could complain about not being summoned to the castle? Kanté and Pogba were still deemed too fair by the staff of the Blues, Guendouzi and Veretout are not resplendent, Ben Yedder no longer fits in the small papers except carnage in front, while other elements (Chevalier, Bourigeaud, Zaire-Emery , Cherki, Barcola) still have (a lot of) work to do. Moussa Diaby (Aston Villa) may be disappointed but the attacking contingent is already pretty crowded.
Where are the Blues in their Euro qualification campaign? All close to obtaining the precious sesame for the Euro in Germany (June 14-July 14). Four matches, four victories, twelve points on the clock and a place as leader of Group B. With six units ahead of Greece (one game less) and nine over Ireland (one game behind) as well as the -Bas (two matches less), the case is very well underway. A new victory against the Irish on Thursday would allow the Blues to land with full confidence in Amsterdam on October 13 to almost validate the qualification. As a reminder, the first two of the group qualify for the Euro.
Will Kylian Mbappé speak? The captain of the Blues, central character of the summer soap opera at Paris SG, is not one to shirk his responsibilities. Last June, in Faro, he took care to come face to face with the media to explain his situation at the club. Three days later at the Stade de France before facing Greece, Antoine Griezmann, vice-captain of the selection, had succeeded him in the media exercise. A way to turn the floor around, to offer a little light to your partner and to breathe too. “I’m not going to come all the time,” he repeats with a smile since taking office following the international retirement of Hugo Lloris. Wednesday at the Parc des Princes, the pre-match press conference is scheduled “with Didier Deschamps and a player” at 4 p.m. Suffice to say that in the event of Mbappé’s presence, questions about his hot summer and his possible contract extension will not be lacking. The France team subject will clearly take a back seat.
Why will the Blues play at the Parc des Princes and not at the Stade de France? The reason is simple, with France-New Zealand opening the Rugby World Cup next Friday in Saint-Denis, the Blues had to repatriate on the Parc des Princes. The last time in Paris is quite recent and dates from November 2021 with a big victory against Kazakhstan (8-0) with a quadruple from Kylian Mbappé. Note however that between the Rugby World Cup in France and the works at the Stade de France in anticipation of the Paris Olympics in 2024, the Blues of football will evolve in Lille (Scotland on October 17), in Nice (Gibraltar on November 18) or even in Metz and Bordeaux in 2024 during the March and June sequences.
