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Coach Didier Deschamps has been left with the core of the team that lifted the trophy in Moscow in 2018 for a demanding triple-header of matches, as Ukraine’s visit on Wednesday is followed by a long journey to play against Kazakhstan on Sunday and then one stop. in Bosnia and Herzegovina on March 31.
Finland will be France’s other rival in Group D, and Les Bleus must top the section to secure their place in Qatar by the end of next year.
They could use a good start, even if Deschamps is not satisfied with the demands his players are facing this week.
“I’m not going to hide that in terms of organization, having three games with two away from home complicates things. We all have to put up with it,” said the man who has been in charge of France for almost nine years. .
Only 14 members of his 26-man squad for the start of qualifying went to the last World Cup.
However, the only remaining regulars of the Russian campaign are Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti, whose career has been stalled by injuries, and midfielder Blaise Matuidi, who has gone off the radar since moving to MLS.
Some of those that have emerged or returned to reckoning only serve to underscore the strength in depth that Deschamps has at his disposal.
Everton’s Lucas Digne and Real Madrid’s Ferland Mendy are excellent left-back options, Barcelona’s Clement Lenglet is a new contender in central defense and Bayern Munich’s Kingsley Coman adds quality in attack.
Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot’s international career was overlooked when he declined to be put on the waiting list for the World Cup in Russia, but reappeared heavily in the Nations League campaign of the year. last.
Benzema is still exiled
The elephant in the room is still Karim Benzema, who has scored 10 goals in his last nine games for Real Madrid but remains sidelined by France following his alleged role in a plot to blackmail Mathieu Valbuena in 2015.
“I don’t understand it, you don’t understand it, there are a lot of people who don’t understand it,” Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said last week.
However, Deschamps will not choose Benzema and instead has faith in Kylian Mbappé, Antoine Griezmann and the ever-reliable Olivier Giroud.
With 44 goals for his country, Giroud is close to Thierry Henry’s record of 51.
“When you look statistically what those three represent, that’s what allowed France to become world champions,” Deschamps said this week.
France will also play in the Nations League finals this year, but the delayed Euro 2020 is what matters most.
“These games will serve as a reference for us to enter the Eurocup,” said goalkeeper and captain Hugo Lloris.
France beat Ukraine 7-1 in a friendly last October, but their opponents were weakened by Covid-19 infections and the tie at the Stade de France also evokes memories of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
Ukraine beat Les Bleus 2-0 in the first leg of a decisive tiebreaker, but France rallied to win 3-0 in the return leg and Deschamps’ side have not looked back since.
“We need to get a result and we know the importance of starting well in qualifying campaigns. It’s always a bit of an ordeal,” admitted Lloris.
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