Kylian Mbappé’s probable absence from the next training camp, punctuated by two matches against Israel on October 10 and Belgium on the 14th, will leave a place in Didier Deschamps’ list. The coach of Les Bleus should rely on the players – Bradley Barcola, Michael Olise, Antoine Griezmann, Marcus Thuram, Randal Kolo Muani, Ousmane Dembélé – called up at the beginning of September. But the question of the profile of Mbappé’s “replacement” arises.
The boss of the Blues, who already has Kolo Muani and Thuram in the axis, could he turn towards a different list structure (with one more midfielder) or towards a profile of attacker on the side? If this last option is retained, the most natural candidate would be that of Kingsley Coman. In the name of the “reoxygenation”and while he had played little after his hectic transfer window, the Bayern Munich winger (28 years old) was not selected during the last gathering.
Thauvin preselected
Fifteen months after his last selection, Christopher Nkunku (Chelsea) is also a credible candidate. Deprived of the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024 due to injuries, the Chelsea striker (26 years old), who is not a regular in the club, is coming off a hat-trick in the English League Cup on Tuesday evening against Barrow (D4, 5-0). The staff has always appreciated the versatile profile – number 9, supporting or side striker, relay – of the former Parisian, whose last selection dates back to June 2023. To fuel his “candidacy”, Nkunku, 106 minutes in the Premier League this season, will however have to play.
At the last meeting, Didier Deschamps publicly explained that he was not ruling out players like Moussa Diaby (Al-Ittihad), who play in Saudi Arabia. The former Aston Villa attacking midfielder (25 years old) has a certain past with Les Bleus (11 caps). Could a “surprise” happen? The Monegasque Maghnes Akliouche (22 years old), supervised by the Les Bleus staff on several occasions, probably still lacks references at the very highest level to appear as a solution in the very short term.
Shortlisted in September, Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta (27 years old), second best French scorer playing in one of the five major Championships in 2024 (23 goals, behind Kylian Mbappé, 33), has the right to believe in it. Just like 2018 world champion Florian Thauvin (31 years old, 10 caps), shortlisted. The Udinese striker, 4 goals, 3 assists in 6 matches this season, has not played for Les Bleus since June… 2019.