FRANCE NAME SQUAD FOR FRIENDLIES AND WC QUALIFIER

The French national team has named the squad that would prosecute friendly games against Paraguay and England and their important clash against Sweden in a World Cup qualifier.


Coach Didier Deschamps named Alphonse Areole of PSG, Benot Costil of Rennes and Spurs top choice Hugo Lloris in goal. Lloris is the favourite to start after an impressive run for his club in the Premier League.

AS Monaco defender Benjamin Mendy make the defenders’ list alongside Kurt Zouma of Chelsea, Christophe Jallet of Lyon, and Samuel Umtiti of Barcelona. Recovering centre defender for Real Madrid Raphael Varane was included in defence, as with Presnel Kimpembe of PSG and Laurent Koscielny of Arsenal. Lucas Digne of Barcelona and Djibril Sidibe of Monaco were also named.

In the middle, PFA Player of the Year and France Player of the Year N’Golo Kante was named. World transfer record holder Paul Pogba would line up alongside Corentin Tolisso of Lyon, Moussa Sissoko of Tottenham, and PSG duo of Adrien Rabiot and Blaise Matuidi. more

Jeremy Mathieu might have done heroics for Barcelona

The French centre half Jeremy Mathieu might have done heroics for Barcelona in the most recent El Clasico, but, it was not enough to make Didier Deschamps feel that not selecting the centre back in the national squad for the next two friendly fixtures was a mistake.

Deschamps is still backing his decision. He reckons the choices that he has made, there is some sort of logic behind it and he is fully convinced that the Les Blues are going to fetch some very good results.

Ever since Mathieu has found the net in the Clasico, the French media has been moaning about him not being picked in the national Squad and that it’s going to harm the French team’s chances.

Deschamps is, however, on a different page. According to him, whenever a player is excluded from the national squad and then, he puts up a good performance somewhere, he sparks a debate. But, people should see from manager’s perspective and understand what he is trying to do.

Speaking to the media, Deschamps said, “You have got to back your choices. There’s always going to be different opinions on the squad that you have come up with. But, as a manager, if you have made a decision, you must believe that it will work for the team.” more