Football: the French team of tomorrow, without Benzema but with whom?

Europe 1 with AFP 9:53 p.m., December 19, 2022

Who will make up the France team of tomorrow?

And who will be at its head?

Coach Didier Deschamps started the World Cup at the end of his contract, a first in competition, the fault of a disappointing Euro in 2021, completed in the round of 16.

By reaching the "last four", or the semi-finals, Deschamps met the expectations of the president of the Federation Noël Le Graët.

The two men will meet soon in Guingamp, the stronghold of Le Graët, to discuss an extension.

"I have already said it, I hope he will say yes. He has the cards in his hands", launched the leader Sunday with the newspaper Le Parisien.

At 54, ten of whom have been at the head of the Blues, Deschamps flourishes in this function, where his qualities as a leader of men work wonders.

However, he refused to discuss his future after the match.

"Even if the result were the opposite, I would not have given you the answer."

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Blurry future for thirties

If Deschamps returns, will his trusted men all be there against the Netherlands and Ireland in March?

Its captain Hugo Lloris and its striker Olivier Giroud are approaching the end of their career, at 35 and 36 years old.

"I need like everyone else to take a step back, height on things. We will see in a few weeks", evacuated the goalkeeper with 145 selections, a record.

Jostled in the hierarchy by Mike Maignan (forfeited for the World Cup), the goalkeeper is faced with a dilemma: to withdraw from himself, or risk losing his status as number 1 by the will of the coach.

With a Euro in a year and a half, Lloris can still aim for a few more selections, like Giroud, who has become the Blues' top scorer at the World Cup (53 goals).

"I don't set myself any limits" and "my determination to stay at the highest level and have fun is intact," he warned during the tournament.

Antoine Griezmann (31) and Raphaël Varane (29) still have a few pages to write in the history of the Blues.

For Steve Mandanda (37), it is far from certain.

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Benzema, fewer debates

If Paul Pogba, who will be 30 years old, and N'Golo Kanté, who will be 32, are expected in March, like other injured, this will not be the case for Benzema, package three days before the entry into the running in Qatar.

"I wrote my story and ours ends," wrote the Real Madrid striker on his Twitter account, accompanying his message with a photo of him in the tricolor jersey.

The epilogue is cruel for the Ballon d'Or, whose career in Blue will remain upset.

But for Deschamps, if he stays, it's one less file to decide: the case of the Madrid player would necessarily have been at the center of his next list announcement.

Annoyed in Qatar by questions about his injured number 19, Deschamps will probably no longer have to justify himself now.

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The next generation is already there, his boss too

Whether the "old" leave or not, come back or not, the young generation has already taken some power at the Qatari World Cup.

"There is somewhere a handover that has taken place with a generation that is entering its last phase and a new generation of players, led by Kylian (Mbappé) who has shown strong leadership in this tournament and even more. on this final", summed up Lloris.

In Mexico, Canada and the United States, host lands of the 2026 World Cup, the Parisian striker will only be 27 years old, like defender Ibrahima Konaté and midfielder Youssouf Fofana.

Aurélien Tchouaméni, 22, has already established himself as a key player in the midfield.

Dayot Upamecano and Jules Koundé are embedded in defense, at the same age as Randal Kolo Muani (24 years old), promise of attack like Marcus Thuram (25 years old), contemporary of Ousmane Dembélé.

And Eduardo Camavinga is only 20 years old.