The France national team will make a complete squad rotation for Sunday’s friendly against Colombia. This is an opportunity for the substitutes to make their mark ahead of the World Cup.
A major squad shake-up is on the cards for Les Bleus. None of the eleven players who started Thursday’s match against Brazil (2-1) are expected to be selected by Didier Deschamps for Sunday’s friendly against Colombia.
“Now is the time to make changes. Whether it’s ten or eleven… I’m not going to make twelve. I want to see as many players as possible on the pitch,” announced the France manager at a press conference.
The substitutes have everything to gain
This will therefore be an opportunity for the substitutes to reinforce the confidence Deschamps has placed in them. For, even though the Basque coach has assured that “no, the players aren’t playing for their places” and that they “have everything to gain, not everything to lose, and what they do won’t be their undoing”, dilemmas likely remain.
“If everyone is available, obviously I’m not going to pick everyone,” he added. The 26-man squad for March will not be the same as the one for 14 May, and the players who benefited from a combination of circumstances during this international break will therefore have to prove themselves against the Cafeteros to keep their World Cup dreams alive.
More pressure on Kalulu, Lacroix and Kolo Muani?
Three players are under particular scrutiny, and this mainly concerns the defence. Called up following Jules Koundé’s withdrawal, Pierre Kalulu will have the chance to redeem himself, ten months after the nightmare he endured against Spain (4-5) in the Nations League. Then there is Maxence Lacroix, who will capitalise on William Saliba’s withdrawal and Dayot Upamecano’s suspension to make his first start for the national team, and he too will be under particular scrutiny.
In attack, this situation is also likely to affect Randal Kolo Muani, who has not been helped by his individual season and the emergence of young talents in his position. But the former Parisian seems to be starting from even further back: he may not even start this second match. Rayan Cherki, Maghnes Akliouche, Désiré Doué and Marcus Thuram are expected to feature. This would not bode well for him, having returned to Les Bleus following Bradley Barcola’s absence.
In any case, these players vying for a place are likely aware that a vacancy in their position next May will be required for them to make the trip to the United States in two and a half months’ time. This friendly against Colombia will be an opportunity for them to strengthen their case, or to be seen as an additional option in Deschamps’ eyes for his final squad, the manager’s sole criterion being to have three options in every position.
Post Comment