The coach of the France team, Didier Deschamps, will communicate on Thursday evening his list of 26 (or 23?) players who will play in Euro 2024 in Germany this summer (June 14-July 14). Le Figaro has submitted its Internet users to a survey since December 2, which is now closed. The results should generally correspond to reality, but some surprises remain.
This is the position where the hierarchy seems obvious. Mike Maignan was acclaimed with 97% of Internet users’ votes (7,303 votes). Hoping that he is recovered from his right adductor injury contracted with AC Milan three weeks ago. Behind come Brice Samba (75%) and Alphonse Areola (59%).
This trio has been that of all the Blues’ gatherings since the retirement of Hugo Lloris after the 2022 World Cup. Lucas Chevalier finished 4th in the poll with 41% of the votes, ahead of Alban Lafont (19%) and Guillaume Restes (10% ). Chevalier and Restes are expected for the 2024 Olympics, but the Lille player is uncertain after a left knee injury.
Who says list of 26 says 9 defenders instead of the usual 8. And the package of Lucas Hernandez, 2nd defender with the highest number of votes in our survey (92%), also frees up a place. His brother Théo, left back, dominates the group of defenders (97%). We also find the axials that are Dayot Upamecano, Ibrahima Konaté and William Saliba. To which we can add Benjamin Pavard, sometimes employed on the right, like Jules Koundé (59% of the votes).
SEE ALSO – T. Hernandez’s decisive pass for Kolo Muani during France-Chile last March (3-2)
Jonathan Clauss (75%) will also be there for Internet users, he the only pure right-back. Then come the uncertainties. Ferland Mendy, left back of Real Madrid, completes the list (33%) with… Wesley Fofana (19%) who is coming off a blank season (ruptured cruciate ligaments in July 2023) and is therefore out. Like the one who follows him, Presnel Kimpembe (18%).
We thus come across Lucas Digne (18%), which would be a curious choice because it would make three left-backs. The next center is a usual replacement, Axel Disasi (15%). The names of Digne and Mendy would be a little surprise from Deschamps. The Madrilenian has not been called up since September 2022 and, before that, had not been called up since March 2021. Digne, starter at Aston Villa, has no longer been entitled to a call from the Blues since June 2022.
First there are the indisputable ones. Internet users almost all agree to send Antoine Griezmann (99%), Aurélien Tchouameni (95%), Adrien Rabiot (94%), Eduardo Camavinga (92%) and Warren Zaire-Emery (90%) to the Euro. The first four were there at the 2022 World Cup. Zaire-Emery has become an indisputable starter at PSG at the age of 18. The 6th midfielder also seems quite clear: Youssouf Fofana (57%), useful replacement under Deschamps.
But since the list is expanded to 26, a 7th name is needed. Surprise: Internet users give the advantage to N’Golo Kanté, 33, who left for the Saudi club Al-Ittihad last summer. Certainly, he plays a lot there (41 matches, all as a starter) and has left the injuries behind him. But the 2018 world champion has not been called up since the Qatari World Cup, for which he had to withdraw. He is ahead of Mattéo Guendouzi (15%) and Jordan Veretout (14%) in our survey.
Four attackers stand out in the eyes of Internet users: Kylian Mbappé (98%), Olivier Giroud (94%), Ousmane Dembélé (89%) and Kingsley Coman (87%). In their wake, Marcus Thuram (70%) then a third PSG player, Randal Kolo Muani (58%). As for the 7th man, Internet users have a weakness for Christopher Nkunku (37%), often injured with Chelsea this season (12 matches) and short of form.
However, it must be remembered that Coman is in a race against time to be fit for the Euro, having injured his right adductor in April with Bayern Munich. In the event of a package, Internet users would give Bradley Barcola a chance (30%). The Parisian winger has no selection for the A and should play in the Olympics if Deschamps does not call him up. Mathys Tel (15%) and Wissam Ben Yedder (10%) are a step behind in our survey.
Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan, Brice Samba, Alphonse Areola Defenders: Théo Hernandez, Ferland Mendy, Lucas Digne, Ibrahima Konaté, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, Benjamin Pavard, Jules Koundé, Jonathan Clauss Midfield: Aurélien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, Adrien Rabiot, Warren Zaire- Emery, N’Golo Kanté, Youssouf Fofana, Antoine Griezmann Forwards: Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Kingsley Coman, Olivier Giroud, Marcus Thuram, Randal Kolo Muani, Christopher Nkunku
