By Baptiste Desprez and Sebastien Ferreira
Thursday at 2 p.m., Didier Deschamps will name the names of the players who will play in the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup (Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Bosnia, March 24, 28 and 31).
In front of their television, some Blues will listen attentively, aware of playing big with this gathering.
At the beginning of January on the Téléfoot plateau, Deschamps confided to having "a great twenty" names whose place is assured or almost for the Euro (June 11-July 11, 2021).
The past proves that the coach of the Blues does not lie.
Proof of this is when we look back in the archives and in particular during the list which precedes the one expected by all, concerning the 23 elected before a big competition.
During this, the coach no longer carries out tests and trusts his group.
The proof.
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2014 World Cup: Payet the only one not to discover Brazil
In March 2014, the former coach of Monaco and Marseille called 24 players for the last preparation matches.
The twenty-fourth man, the one who did not play the Brazilian World Cup, is Dimitri Payet.
Apart from Stéphane Ruffier who replaced an injured Steve Mandanda, the group was already formed in March.
Euro 2016: Deschamps "forced" to leave Sakho
Les Bleus at Euro 2016Panoramic
Same scenario or almost in 2016. Deschamps only makes one change, somewhat forced.
Mamadou Sakho is present in March.
At the end of April, the Liverpool defender tested positive for a fat burner.
He contests, but receives a 30-day suspension by UEFA as a precautionary measure.
Eliaquim Mangala, holder at the end of the season at Manchester City, rushes into the breach.
As Sakho's suspension comes to an end, Jérémy Mathieu is injured and withdraws 2 weeks from the start of the Euro.
Samuel Umtiti is called in as reinforcement.
Didn't Deschamps consider taking over Sakho?
“Seriously?
No.
Or else I have no respect for the players I have selected, ”replies the former captain of the Blues.
2018 World Cup: Martial, Ben Yedder and Rabiot miss the plane for Russia
Unless injured or suspended, Deschamps has never changed his mind at the last minute before a big meeting ... until the World Cup 2018. Adrien Rabiot is relegated to the rank of reservist - a status that he will refuse to honor, which will make people talk - and Steven Nzonzi takes advantage.
“There is a sporting criterion, explains Deschamps.
His performances in Blue are not the same as at PSG.
He has Tolisso, Pogba and Matuidi as a competition for his position, so I chose Nzonzi which is closer to the Kanté register and I have already taken it, it has already been interesting. "
Another little surprise: Benjamin Mendy.
The left side, victim of a cruciate ligament rupture of the knee in September 2017, plays only 3 matches with Manchester City at the end of the season, before the World Cup.
Enough to be preferred to Lucas Digne.
“Since his last selection, with Barça, he has only played 90 minutes twice, including once a central defender,” explains Didier Deschamps.
Present in March, attackers Anthony Martial and Wissam Ben Yedder also miss the train for Russia, the fault of a list of 24 reduced to 23 and the return of Nabil Fekir, victim of a small physical glitch in March.
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