Didier Deschamps loses a player just before announcing his list for the November rally.
Hard blow for the Blues. Didier Deschamps finds himself with one less option. Two days after Real Madrid’s defeat against Liverpool in the 4th day of the Champions League (1-0), the Merengue club announced this Thursday the injury of its French international Aurélien Tchouaméni in a press release.
The announcement came just an hour before the publication of Deschamps’ list for the final two World Cup qualifying matches. “Following the examinations carried out today by the Real Madrid medical service on our player Aurélien Tchouameni, a lesion of the semitendinosus muscle of the left leg was diagnosed”writes the club. His duration of absence has not been communicated, but he should be unavailable for at least three weeks, according to the Spanish press.
To compensate for this absence, as well as that of Adrien Rabiot who also missed out, the national coach made strong choices. N’Golo Kanté returns to the French team, his last call-up dating from November 2024, during the Nations League. He accompanies in midfield Eduardo Camavinga, Manu Koné, Michael Olise and the other returnee, Warren Zaire-Emery.
Cherki and Kolo Muani return
In the cages, Mike Maignan will be supported by Lucas Chevalier and Brice Samba. In the axis, the quartet William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, Ibrahima Konaté and Lucas Hernandez is renewed by Deschamps. On the right, Jules Koundé and Malo Gusto retain their places. On the left, Lucas Digne and Theo Hernandez also confirm their lead over the competition.
In attack, Jean-Philippe Mateta is once again present while Rayan Cherki and Randal Kolo Muani, injured in recent weeks, make their return. Bradley Barcola, initially summoned last October but withdrawn before the start of the training, is also on the list of 24, with Akliouche, Mbappé, Ekitike and Nkunku.
