EURO 2024: Who Did Didier Deschamps Called Up For France National Team?
With many bookmakers, England is big favorite to win the EURO 2024. However, they will have to beat France in order to prove that the bookmakers were right. France will potentially play England in the semi-final. Can France national team beat the odds and win the tournament before England?
France has a very strong team. It is even better than the one in Qatar in the World Cup in 2022. They qualified for EURO without a defeat, beating Netherlands in both legs.
France squad is full of young talents. Deschamps invited Olivier Giroud to Germany as well! He proved on several occasions that he is valuable part of this team. He will be surrounded by impeccable talents in form of Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe among other talented players. France national team is packed with young and talented players.
So, let’s see who Didier Deschamps is bringing to Germany.
Goalkeepers
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Mike Maignan scared Deschamps a lot when he picked up an injury before Milan – Juventus game in April. However, the injury was not that bad so he will definitely be the choice number one. As long as he is fit, his place is cemented in the starting XI having in mind that he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Alphonse Areola from West Ham is choice number two but Brice Samba who did well against Chile in 3:2 victory is also in the contest.
| Name | Club |
|---|---|
| Alphonse Areola | West Ham |
| Mike Maignan | AC Milan |
| Brice Samba | Lens |
Defenders
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Big blow for France national team is the Lucas Hernandez’s injury. It is most likely that his position will take his brother Theo Hernandez. William Saliba and Ibrahima Konate will most likely be two central defenders. However, there are Jules Kounde and Benjamin Pavard who are really talented players and both can play both in center and right back.
Pavard will most likely play as central defender as he is good at the position and he played a lot of games for Inter in previous season on that position. So, on the right back, we will see if it will be Jules Kounde or Jonathan Clauss. Caluss did not play well for Marseille this season but Deschamps has trust in this 31-year-old.
| Name | Club |
|---|---|
| Jonathan Clauss | Marseille |
| Theo Hernandez | AC Milan |
| Ibrahima Konate | Liverpool |
| Jules Kounde | Barcelona |
| Ferland Mendy | Real Madrid |
| Benjamin Pavard | Inter |
| William Saliba | Arsenal |
| Dayot Upamecano | Bayern Munich |
Midfielders
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Deschamps have the winning combination he is not willing to change. So, in the midfield we have three standard players. Adrien Rabiot who is became the key player for France ( and Juventus) over the past several years. If Aurelien Tchouameni get back from the injury (expected to be fit before the start of EURO 2024), he will be in the starting line-up.
The third one is Antoine Griezmann. I believe there is no point in saying anything about this monstrous player. He showed what he is capable of and how ridiculously talented player he is.
Youssouf Fofana and Eduardo Camavinga are quality back-ups for this trio together with Warren Zaire-Emery. He debuted in November at the age of 18 with the goal. He is the youngest ever player to be called up for France in history.
What comes as surprise is that Deschamps recalled N’Golo Kante to the France national team for EURO 2024. According to Deschamps, he regained all physical abilities playing for Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.
| Name | Club |
|---|---|
| Eduardo Camavinga | Real Madrid |
| Youssouf Fofana | Monaco |
| Antoine Griezmann | Atletico Madrid |
| N’Golo Kante | Al-Ittihad |
| Adrien Rabiot | Juventus |
| Aurelien Tchouameni | Real Madrid |
| Warren Zaire-Emery | Paris Saint-Germain |
Forwards
So, what to say about the attacking possibilities France national team have?
Four forwards come from PSG. Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembele, Randal Kolo Muani and star player Kylian Mbappe of course. He loves to play with Olivier Giroud. But, it will not be easy job for Giroud. Marcus Thuram had played really good debut season at Inter this year. And, there is Kingsley Coman.
Just the look at these names gives you bumps.
| Name | Club |
|---|---|
| Bradley Barcola | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Kingsley Coman | Bayern Munich |
| Ousmane Dembele | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Olivier Giroud | AC Milan |
| Randal Kolo Muani | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Kylian Mbappe | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Marcus Thuram | Inter |
Expected XI
Maignan will certainly be the goalkeeper choice number one! Saliba is expected to be ahead of Benjamin Pavard.
Although Kante is recalled, it is highly likely that Tchouameni, Rabiot and Griezmann will be the trio in the midfield while Griezmann will have the freedom to go forward and help out Giroud. On the wings, it is expected Mbappe and Coman will take their positions.
So, the formation should be 4-3-3 and it looks like this: Maignan; Clauss, Saliba, Konate, Theo Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot, Griezmann; Coman, Giroud, Mbappe.
Group Stage
France national team is in group D with Austria, Poland and Nethelands, the team they beat twice in the EURO Qualifiers.
France play with Austria 17th of June. On 21st of June they will play with Netherlands and the final game in group D is against Poland on 25th of June.
It is rather tough group but the odds are in favor for France. They should be in the knockout phase. However, let’s wait and see.