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It’s now official! This Thursday evening, on TF1, Didier Deschamps announced the 25 players of the France team who will try to win Euro 2024, from June 14 to July 14 in Germany. If Kylian Mbappé, captain of the Blues, is logically present, just like Randal Kolo Muani, Eduardo Camavinga or even Antoine Griezmann, the coach of the Tricolores has a big surprise in store. While Jordan Veretout and Mattéo Guendouzi were announced as the two finalists to complete the French midfield, the 55-year-old tactician finally called N’Golo Kanté, now in the colors of Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia. Asked about this surprising choice, the person concerned explained it.
“I can understand that the supporters of the France team did not follow his journey, he is now in Saudi Arabia, it is more complicated, he came out of a 2022/2023 season with a major injury, but without that would have been part of my list for the World Cup in Qatar. After that, he had a full season, he regained all his physical abilities and thanks to his experience and his physique, I am convinced that the French team will be better with him”first launched Deschamps before adding another layer. “He has athletic abilities, he has found them again, he has played a lot of matches, we can discuss the specific intensity in Saudi Arabia with the temperature and the humidity level which leads to slower second halves in the pace, but I have no doubt about his ability”.
Deschamps rewards Kanté and talks about the injuries…
“He has played more than 4000 minutes, or more than 40 matches, as I speak to you he is actually playing, I have no doubts about what was his strength and we can see that add his experience, he was part of this list for the World Cup in Russia”, thus justified the strong man of the Blues. At a press conference, Deschamps also returned to the presence of Bradley Barcola, the young Parisian winger. “There are choices that are always difficult. I will never say that a list is easy. There are always discussions. Compared to what we want and the use of certain players, to have different options. (…) With his qualities, he was not there in March, but he could have been there. I felt that it was perhaps going a little too quickly. But I tell you, it was not last night’s match (against Nice, editor’s note) which meant that… He was selected before. He has this ability to create differences, to score goals. It wasn’t decided a few days ago. We have been thinking since the last gathering”.
Faced with journalists, DD also justified its decision to bet on Aurélien Tchouaméni, Mike Maignan and Kingsley Coman, recently injured and for a time announced uncertain for this major continental meeting. “I have every reason to believe that they will be ready, that is the reason for my choice. Afterwards, you should also know that I have another deadline, this is the list that I must communicate to UEFA on the evening of June 7, between now and then, there will be training sessions and the opportunity to specify the things. One thing is certain, if they are there it is because I consider that they will all be available for the first match against Austria.confided the Frenchman, also justifying the presence of Ibrahima Konaté and Dayot Upamecano despite more complicated seasons at club. “The small gap can happen in a season, but I have no doubts about their ability to bring to this group”, notably retorted the French coach. Finally, in the absence of Lucas Hernandez, victim of a cruciate ligament rupture with PSG, Deschamps also decided to call Ferland Mendy.
Despite everything, the French tactician assured that the presence of the Madrid side was not linked to the Parisian’s package. “If Lucas Hernandez had been there, Ferland would have been there. I consider Lucas to be more of a central defender than a full-back. It’s not a matter of I like it, I don’t like it. I take players when I think it is for the good of the France team. In Madrid, he suffered a lot of injuries. He evolved in his game which was mainly focused offensively. It’s linked to the way Real play. He doubles much less, but he has gained in defensive quality which was not his strong point. He is in his place because of what he achieves with his club”launched Deschamps before concluding with the summons of Warren Zaire-Emery. “He is at a very high level with Paris Saint-Germain, he may have periods of less good performance, but he has everything to have many years in the French team”. Now it’s time for the show!
