The race for the 2022 World Cup officially begins this Thursday. Didier Deschamps announced the list of players summoned for the first three days of the Qualifiers for the next World Cup in Qatar from the headquarters of the French Football Federation in Paris. And to challenge Ukraine (Wednesday March 24, 8:45 p.m., at the Stade de France), Kazakhstan (Sunday March 28, 3 p.m., in Nursoultan) and Bosnia-Herzegovina (Wednesday March 31, 8:45 p.m., in Sarajevo), the coach has decided to call on 26 players.
–
An enlarged list because of the sanitary conditions, of course, but also the sequence of the three meetings in a few days. Eduardo Camavinga, Jonathan Ikoné and Houssem Aouar will not be, left at the disposal of the Espoirs of Sylvain Ripoll for the group stages of the Euro, just like Dayot Upamecano, absent him for injury. On the other hand, we find the usual captains: captain Hugo Lloris, Raphaël Varane, N’Golo Kanté or Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud and Kylian Mbappé.
Few surprises, but lots of feedback
We will also highlight the presence of Paul Pogba, back from injury, and the return of Tanguy Ndombélé, performing with Tottenham this season, who replaces Corentin Tolisso, seriously injured and already forfeited for the Euro at the end of the season. Adrien Rabiot, very good at the last rally, retains the confidence of the tricolor technician, despite ups and downs at Juventus. And it is Steven Nzonzi who pays the price.
Note also the comebacks of Alphonse Areola and Ferland Mendy, who became a centerpiece of Zinedine Zidane’s eleven. In front, Anthony Martial, also on alternating current at Manchester United, is also maintained, just like Wissam Ben Yedder, mute for four matches with AS Monaco. Thomas Lemar and Ousmane Dembélé, very prominent with their respective club lately, also find the Blues.
The selection :
Guardians: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Steve Mandanda (Olympique de Marseille), Mike Maignan (Lille), Alphonse Areola (Fulham);
Defenders: Raphaël Varane (Real Madrid), Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid), Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich), Lucas Digne (Everton), Presnel Kimpembe (Paris SG), Léo Dubois (Olympique Lyonnais), Clément Lenglet (FC Barcelona), Kurt Zouma (Chelsea);
Environments : N’Golo Kanté (Chelsea), Tanguy Ndombélé (Tottenham), Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham);
Attackers: Kylian Mbappé (Paris SG), Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona), Wissam Ben Yedder (AS Monaco), Olivier Giroud (Chelsea), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Ousmane Dembélé (FC Barcelona), Anthony Martial (Manchester United), Thomas Lemar (Atlético de Madrid)
The 26 Blues selected to start Qualifying for the 2022 World Cup! ???????? #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/Tsl0dkv2UY
– France team ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) March 18, 2021
–
