For now, no one can know the names of the unfortunate. With lists expanded this year to 26 elements but only 23 boys to sleep on the scoresheet, Didier Deschamps must remove three players, left in the stands. Before the official decision, the boss of the Blues had given his approval to the process but it was not followed to the end. "I think if UEFA looks at being able to expand the roster, that would be a good thing, provided of course that it can be two or three more players, and that all can be on the score sheet. match ”, he said in Bosnia last March after the victory of the Blues in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
In Nice, during France-Wales (3-0), the three European champions Chelsea (Zouma, Kanté, Giroud) were left to rest, barely recovered from their Champions League final won against Manchester City (1-0).
The problem therefore did not arise.
This Tuesday at the Stade de France against Bulgaria (3-0), two players suffered from sores, Kingsley Coman and Adrien Rabiot, which did not allow to see much clearer either.
The coach made his first choice and did not register Marcus Thuram, 23, for this friendly meeting.
Thuram, Zouma and Lenglet in the tribune against Germany?
The Borussia Mönchengladbach striker, not used in Nice either, has the profile on Tuesday to sit in the stands of the Allianz Arena in Munich for the first match of the world champions, against Germany, during this Euro. He is the penultimate arrival in this group, just before Jules Koundé. But the Sevillian is a versatile defender while Thuram is added to a very competitive offensive sector. Léo Dubois, Kurt Zouma and Clément Lenglet who did not play any minute of the preparation matches could complete the trio. Their media and social weight in the locker room, modest in both categories, their good spirit (Thuram, Zouma and Lenglet have this reputation) should facilitate Deschamps' decision.
To prepare the ground, captain Hugo Lloris recently recalled that the competition would be won "at 26". In each final phase, Euro or World Cup, when the troop numbered only 23 members, there were always zero-minute players on the pitch. Adil Rami was the only outfield player not to enter Russia in 2018. The risk of the trio installed in the stadium in jogging is that he feels excluded from the life of the Blues, obviously, but Deschamps has suggested that he will practice a mini-rotation for the three "banished". One way to cushion the unpleasant effect. Note that even without being on the scoresheet, the 26 selected by the coach would be European champions if they are happy on July 11.