Two and a half months before the start of the World Cup (November 20-December 18), another golden competition reopens its doors this Tuesday evening: the legendary Champions League.
This season, the group stages will take on a special flavor for many players looking for a ticket to the national team.
To discover
Champions League fixtures and results
In the France team, several players will want to use the luxurious spotlights of the big-eared competition to secure a place on the plane alongside executives Hugo Lloris, Kylian Mbappé, Karim Benzema and others.
Zoom on these Tricolores who want to send a message to Didier Deschamps on the lawns of the Champions League.
Read alsoWorld 2022: who is on the plane for Qatar?
Replace Deschamps and choose your 23 Blues
Defensive competition to be decided
Recruited for 80.4 million euros at Chelsea,
Wesley Fofana
is packing his bags with a brand new status and an increased press for this young 21-year-old defender who has still not played a single match in the Champions League in his career. .
If Didier Deschamps never called him, he could nevertheless be one of the new strong elements in the event of very good performances with his club in Europe.
As a right axial defender, he has a card to play.
A
Blues
in Blue?
It's up to Fofana to confirm his new costume.
Wesley Fofana MATTHEW CHILDS / REUTERS
With five starts in as many Bundesliga games,
Dayot Upamecano
is another big name to watch in the Champions League for the defensive sector of the Blues.
His agreement with Lucas Hernandez in Munich may make Didier Deschamps want to install their Bavarian automatisms with France in Qatar, even if his performances with the Blues have not raised the crowds so far.
Injured in the knee since August 5 in a preparation match against Strasbourg,
Ibrahima Konaté
has not started his new season, still stuck in the infirmary until the beginning of October.
While Liverpool are having a lackluster start to the campaign (7th in the Premier League), the French defender could make up for lost time on his return by making solid copies in the Champions League by strengthening a Reds defense that is far too irregular at this time. day.
Read also“When he goes to play, he will no longer come out of the France team”: Ibrahima Konaté, a youngster ready to break everything
Author of a thunderous start to the season with OM,
Jonathan Clauss
continues his beautiful story, his late explosion at almost 30 years old.
But he will discover his first major competition, the high level of world football with the Champions League.
In an affordable group, Clauss has every interest in also being a hit in Europe to ensure his Qatari ticket, or even at best claim a greater status in Blue.
If he shines in C1, the door of the Blues will be open to him.
The indisputable executives: Lucas Hernandez, Raphaël Varane, Presnel Kimpembe, Jules Koundé...
Read alsoDidier Deschamps: “After ten years at the head of the Blues, I am not worn out”
The environment to be insured
Here is a duo that will be closely scrutinized in these Champions League group stages.
With Casemiro's departure for Manchester United, young midfielder
Aurélien Tchouaméni
, recruited this summer for 80 million, has already been propelled into Carlo Ancelotti's 11 alongside Luka Modric and Toni Kroos.
If the mayonnaise takes fast enough for the former Monegasque, then he could score a lot of points in the mind of Didier Deschamps.
Between his injury and his court case, Paul Pogba sees his future in Blue for the moment on hold:
Eduardo Camavinga
could also invite himself to the party if spots become available at his post and good performances follow.
Like his previously mentioned friend from OM,
Mattéo Guendouzi
has never played a single match in the Champions League.
If he has been essential in the Marseille collective for a year, his presence with the Blues on a thread, as the competition is tough in France at all positions.
The group matches could be decisive in the head of the coach.
After a quick loan to OL,
Tanguy Ndombele
signed for Napoli this summer.
New club, new responsibilities and new goals for the mid-25s.
Absent from the France team since March 28, 2021, the date of his last selection (2-0 victory against Kazakhstan in the World Cup qualifiers), Ndombele should be useful in Spalletti's 4-3-3: the versatility of the French promises to be crucial in the coming days for Napoli in a strong group with Liverpool, Ajax and Glasgow.
Posters that Deschamps and his staff will analyze.
The indisputable executives: N'Golo Kanté, Paul Pogba, Adrien Rabiot...
Eduardo Camavinga and Aurélien Tchouaméni in Real Madrid jerseys.
ISABEL INFANTES / REUTERS
The attack to complete
It was one of the soap operas of the summer and it finally extended to Barcelona,
Ousmane Dembélé
must reassure Didier Deschamps after the last hectic months in Catalonia following the (very) long negotiations and his false start from the Blaugranas.
Author of a very good end to last season (13 assists in La Liga), he has already scored a goal and delivered two assists in four league games.
Coach Xavi seems to trust him fully in his attacking sector with rookie Robert Lewandowski.
If Dembélé manages to shine in the group of death (Barça, Bayern, Inter, Plzen) and has shown signs of consistency, there is no doubt that Deschamps will think of him for Qatar.
With a new contract signed this summer until 2026,
Christopher Nkunku
has definitely become the leader of RB Leipzig - for those who still doubted it.
While Antoine Griezmann only plays 28 minutes per game at Atlético Madrid due to loan terms with Barca, Nkunku has something to play for if he wants to see his role with the Blues grow now.
The Champions League will be a good way to install doubt in the head of "DD" especially against Real Madrid in group E.
If Deschamps has often appealed to Wissam Ben Yedder during the last rallies, the case of
Olivier Giroud
is far from closed.
In Milan, the international with 112 selections still has some under his cleats.
His past experience with the Blues, especially in the coronation in 2018, prevents Didier Deschamps from putting him completely aside.
To see in what perspective the coach of the Blues will fill the last spots of the attack: a last dance for Giroud or the immediate integration of young elements to prepare the post-Qatar?
In any case, the meetings of the Rossoneri in the Champions League will give a taste of the level of the French in the big meetings.
Read alsoFrom placarded to essential: Giroud sent a message to Deschamps
There are many French attackers playing in Germany.
If Marcus Thuram is not playing in the Champions League this season with Borussia Mönchengladbach, this is not the case for
Moussa Diaby
in Leverkusen and
Randal Kolo Muani
in Frankfurt.
In the debate, advantage for the former Parisian who already has four meetings with the Blues unlike "RKM" never called.
What if the former Nantes player (5 games, 2 goals) was Chef Deschamps' surprise for Qatar?
Kolo Muani has scored two goals in five games while awaiting confirmation in the Champions League in OM's famous open Group D.
The indisputable executives: Kylian Mbappé, Karim Benzema, Antoine Griezmann