France’s 2018 World Cup squad predicted: Who will make Deschamps’ 23-man group?

Robin Bairner

France’s 2018 World Cup squad predicted: Who will make Deschamps’ 23-man group? image

World Cup qualifying for France might have been rather more uncomfortable than they would have wished, but the Euro 2016 runners-up are still among the favourites to lift the crown in Russia.

Arguably no country in the world can match the sheer strength in depth of the French panel, yet historically they are a country that has struggled to extract the maximum from groups often composed of quality players. 

This was in evidence as they struggled over the line to reach the finals, drawing with Luxembourg then struggling to narrow wins over Bulgaria and Belarus to see off Sweden and the Netherlands.

Head coach Didier Deschamps’ job now is to piece together the best unit he can for a group stage that will see Les Bleus tackle Australia, Denmark and Peru in the group stages before, hopefully, assaulting the knock-out rounds.

But who will he take east with him?


ON THE PLANE


Antoine Griezmann France Wales

There is little doubt about who France’s top two goalkeepers are. Hugo Lloris is fast closing in on 100 caps for his country, while Steve Mandanda has been a long-time understudy in the national team. 

In defence, meanwhile, there is a little more uncertainty. Raphael Varane will make the squad along with Barcelona centre-back Samuel Umtiti, but otherwise there can be considered few guarantees. Laurent Koscielny would have travelled but for a serious Achilles injury that will keep him out until Christmas.

Perhaps the area where France have struggled the most to find balance in recent years is midfield. Like Manchester United, they have toiled to get the best out of Paul Pogba, yet the Red Devil will be in the squad along with N’Golo Kante and Blaise Matuidi, who are the players who will battle to support him in the heart of the pitch.

Further forward, Antoine Griezmann will travel as France’s undoubted offensive talisman, while Olivier Giroud of Chelsea has scored more goals than any other player in Deschamps’ reign and will likely have an important role to play. 

Paris Saint-Germain attacker Kylian Mbappe might not have found his best level on the international scene yet, but there is no prospect of the teenager failing to make the cut.


POTENTIAL PICKS


Alexandre Lacazette, France vs Germany

Two goalkeepers are battling for the right to be third choice in Les Bleus’ pecking order at present, the uncapped Alphonse Areola of PSG and Bordeaux shot-stopper Benoit Costil. Areola has been in better form of late and was given the nod to make the squad for the recent friendlies against Colombia and Russia, so the role is his to throw away.

Perhaps the greatest uncertainty comes in the full-back roles. Monaco’s Djibril Sidibe and Barcelona’s Lucas Digne are in the strongest position to make the 23-man panel but their spots are certainly not guaranteed, particularly with the former having suffered an injury of late. 

On the left, Benjamin Mendy will surely travel if he can prove his fitness, but after six months out that will be no easy task for the Manchester City man, while Layvin Kurzawa has recently fallen out of favour at PSG, which puts his prospects very much in the balance. Marseille’s Jordan Amavi is enjoying a good season, too, and was called by Deschamps in the autumn. 

Lucas Hernandez’s decision to accept a call from France as opposed to Spain gives another option in that area and, given he is versatile enough to also play in the middle, Deschamps may see that as a major bonus.

There is perhaps greater competition on the right, where Stuttgart defender Benjamin Pavard has just broken into the national reckoning. Sevilla’s Sebastien Corchia is another viable option, despite injury troubles, while veteran Christophe Jallet may find his chances compromised by a recent injury setback.

With two of the four centre-back positions probably locked down, it may come down to a shootout between Presnel Kimpembe, excellent with PSG this season, Aymeric Laporte of Man City and Marseille’s Adil Rami.

Further forward, Adrien Rabiot and Corentin Tolisso should be considered likely to travel to Russia, with Steven Nzonzi waiting in the wings as cover. 

Moussa Sissoko has always performed to a high level for the national team, giving him a chance, but given the strength of competition the Tottenham man faces, he is unlikely to be involved.

There will be an almighty battle for the attacking midfield slots. Ousmane Dembele is at risk of missing out as he struggles for game time at Barcelona but Dimitri Payet’s prospects of being picked have improved in recent weeks with his level going up. Marseille team-mate Florian Thauvin, by contrast, has been superb for OM all season, playing a key role in leading them to the Europa League final, while Anthony Martial and Kingsley Coman are also in the equation. 

Nabil Fekir is likely to be selected as a playmaker, meanwhile.

In attack, Deschamps likes that fact that Wissam Ben Yedder can bring something different to his team and has selected the Sevilla man, who ousted Manchester United from the Champions League by scoring twice at Old Trafford. 

Alexandre Lacazette, meanwhile, has not always been a favourite of the coach but seems to be winning him over. Atletico Madrid striker Kevin Gameiro is another in with a shot, albeit a more distant one.


LONG SHOTS


HD Karim Benzema France

The potential for a long shot to reach Deschamps’ final 23 is slim, yet there are a number of players who might hope to profit from injuries or other unforeseen circumstances ahead of the summer.

Among those are Saint-Etienne goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier, who is capable of pulling off astounding reaction stops and has established himself firmly as one of the best in Ligue 1.

In the rearguard, meanwhile, Kurt Zouma has failed to realise his potential for the national team due to serious injury and has been on the periphery of the coach’s thinking, having been called up earlier this season. Indeed, RB Leipzig’s prodigious teenager Dayot Upamecano or even Lyon’s Mouctar Diakhaby could be on a roughly equal footing to the 23-year-old.

For veteran defender Bacary Sagna, it is surely too late, especially after failing to find a club in the first half of the season before signing for Benevento, yet ex-Arsenal man Mathieu Debuchy has been performing superbly for Saint-Etienne and is perhaps the best bet of the defensive dark horses to make the panel.

Valencia coach Marcelino certainly feels that it is unjust that Geoffrey Kondogbia has been overlooked for so long, having argued that the former Monaco youth is “at least as good as Pogba”. Nevertheless, the last of his five caps came in September 2015 in a friendly with Serbia. A recall is unlikely at this late hour.

Tiemoue Bakayoko was right in contention a year ago, but since debuting against Spain – his sole international cap to date – the Chelsea man has been completely out of form. It would be astonishing if he were to be selected.

Houssem Aouar has enjoyed a breakthrough season at Lyon, where midfield cohorts Lucas Tousart and Tanguy Ndombele also look every inch like future international players. 

Equally, it would be incredible if there was a U-turn from Deschamps with regards to Karim Benzema, who has been frozen out of national team duties since a sex tape scandal involving Mathieu Valbuena, who has said he has given up hope of representing his country again.

Deschamps would be likelier to look to the Under-21 side for cover, with Moussa Dembele of Celtic or RB Leipzig’s Jean-Kevin Augustin the likeliest options from the youths. 

Robin Bairner