Didier Deschamps announced on Thursday the list of 24 players selected for the group stage of the League of Nations. The Blues will have four games to play in 11 days between June 3 and 13, against Denmark, Croatia twice and Austria. For this rally, which will begin on Saturday, May 28, the coach is stable. Only one newcomer appears, Boubacar Kamara, the 22-year-old Marseille midfielder.
Author of a full season with OM, current 3rd in Ligue 1 and semi-finalist in the Europa League Conference, (47 games in all competitions), he can also play in central defense even if Jorge Sampaoli uses him, the more often, in a sentinel role. At the end of the contract on June 30, he should leave his training club with which he has known all the youth selections from under 17 to Espoirs.
A few weeks ago, the possibility of seeing him join Senegal, recent African champion and country of his father, for the next World Cup, had been mentioned. He can now hope to participate in this competition for the Blues. This is the 10th new player called up by Deschamps since September 2021. Compared to March 2022, two executives are back: starting with Karim Benzema. Forfeited against Côte d’Ivoire and South Africa, due to a left calf injury, the Madrilenian finds the selection he will join after the Champions League final against Liverpool (May 28). The other return concerns Benjamin Pavard, positive for Covid two months earlier.
Among the main absentees: Olivier Giroud, as announced in our columns. Recalled in March following Benzema’s withdrawal, the AC Milan striker distinguished himself by scoring two goals. This time, Didier Deschamps chose not to use his services. In addition, another world champion is missing. This is Paul Pogba. The midfielder is still recovering from his calf injury suffered on April 19 with Manchester United. The March rookies Jonathan Clauss (Lens), William Saliba (OM) and Christopher Nkunku (Leipzig) have rather convinced and are logically renewed.
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