The start of a long story? In any case, this is what all observers of French football predict. Didier Deschamps has, as we announced at the start of the week, selected Warren Zaire-Emery for the French team for the first time. Revelation of Paris SG, author of attractive performances in the Champions League and Ligue 1 this season, but also captain of the Bleuets, the new phenomenon is knocking at the door of the A.
It is now up to him to settle in and get his bearings. He will have his chance whether it is against Gibraltar in Nice or against Greece in Athens (November 18 and 21). If he plays on the Côte d’Azur, he will become, at 17 years, eight months and 11 days, the youngest player in the post-war history of the Blues. Record held until now by Eduardo Camavinga. The youngest player in the history of the French team remains Félix Vial, 17 years two months and 15 days old when he faced Luxembourg on October 29, 1911.
By listing the names of those elected for this November gathering, the last of 2023 which should allow the Blues to validate their status as top seed at the Euro (June 14-July 14) – for this all that is needed is a success during of the two meetings – Didier Deschamps surprised no one with the summons of “WZE”.
For several months, the Parisian has been on the French team’s radar. If the absence of Aurélien Tchouaméni (metatarsal) freed up a place in the midfield, the Blues staff would still have selected Titi from PSG in the presence of the Madrilenian. With his volume of play, his power, his mentality and his technical ease, Zaire-Emery seduced Deschamps who never ceases to praise his qualities in front of the microphone as well as in private. It is also rare for the Blues coach to be so enthusiastic.
Apart from the attraction linked to the nugget of PSG, the rest of the list is quite classic. Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba return while Castello Lukeba and Jean-Clair Todibo remain at the door in central defense, knowing that Benjamin Pavard is out due to injury. On the right, Jules Koundé is there too.
Up front, it’s difficult to make your way through an ultra-packed sector of play with the presence of Kylian Mbappé, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembélé, Kingsley Coman and even Randal Kolo Muani and Marcus Thuram. See you on Monday for the French team near Clairefontaine. The first day of the rest of his life for Warren Zaire-Emery.