France will enter the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup as defending champions, and will look to retain their world title. The Les Bleus have all the elements to achieve the feat as well, with Didier Deschamps having a massive list to pick from, a group of 26 players who will be traveling to Qatar. Furthermore, it is highly being speculated that this could be his last tournament in charge of France, as he his planning to step-down regardless of the results at the tournament.
For now however, Deschamps will once again look to his star player Kylian Mbappe to fire his country to glory. Moreover, the PSG forward will now have the company of Karim Benzema alongside him, who missed the previous edition. The reigning Nations League champions have every reason to believe that they can successfully defend their title this year.
France World Cup Squad – The players in contention
Goalkeepers
Hugo Lloris, who is potentially going to play in his last World Cup, could retain his spot in between the sticks, also bearing the captain’s armband. AC Milan’s Mike Maignan was also in some form before picking up an injury which has put his chances of making the final cut at risk.
Steve Mandanda has frequently deputized Lloris, and should make the final list here, with Alphonse Areola also in the fray. However, Nantes’ Alban Lafont too has made his case strong and could be a surprise addition if Deschamps picks him.
| Name | Club |
|---|---|
|
Hugo Lloris |
Tottenham |
| Alphonse Areola |
West Ham |
|
Steve Mandanda |
Stade Rennes |
| Benoit Costil |
Auxerre |
|
Mike Maignan |
Milan |
| Alban Lafont |
Nantes |
Defenders
France could well have a new-look defense from their 2018 triumph, with Raphael Varane looking all set to miss this year’s edition after picking a serious injury during Manchester United’s clash against Chelsea, and Samuel Umtiti nowhere near his form from the previous edition.
But that’s only two missing players, as the Les Blues have William Saliba, Presnel Kimpembe, Ibrahima Konate, Clement Lenglet, Jules Kound, Wesley Fofana, Dayot Upamecano, Lucas Hernandez, all in the wings to replace the duo.
Theo Hernandez, Ferland Mendy, Lucas Digne, Benjamin Pavard, Ruben Aguilar and Jonathan Clauss are the most likely wing-backs Deschamps will take. Pavard should once again enjoy a starting role on the right flank after his 2018 heroics, with Mendy the favorite for left flank.
| Name | Club |
|---|---|
|
Wesley Fofana |
Chelsea |
| Jonathan Clauss |
Marseille |
|
Benoit Badiashile |
Monaco |
| William Saliba |
Arsenal |
|
Raphael Varane |
Manchester United |
| Ibrahima Konate |
Liverpool |
|
Ruben Aguilar |
AS Monaco |
| Lucas Digne |
Aston Villa |
|
Presnel Kimpembe |
PSG |
| Benjamin Pavard |
Bayern Munich |
|
Clement Lenglet |
Tottenham Hotspur |
| Dayot Upamecano |
Bayern Munich |
|
Lucas Hernandez |
Bayern Munich |
| Kurt Zouma |
West ham |
|
Ferland Mendy |
Real Madrid |
| Theo Hernandez |
AC Milan |
|
Jules Kounde |
Barcelona |
Midfielders
Another starting duo from the previous World Cup for France has been ruled out for the upcoming edition, as Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante confirmed absentees owning to injuries. This comes as a huge blow for Deschamps, but again, he still has a pool of talented players in the middle of the part to replace Pogba and Kante, and perhaps give birth to a new partnership.
Real Madrid pair Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni should be expected in starting roles, with Adrien Rabiot also being Deschamps’ one of the go-to names. Corentin Tolisso and Nabil Fekir should be the traditional names on the team-sheet, with Lyon’s Houssem Aouar and Atletico Madrid’s Thomas Lemar expected to make the list too.
| Name | Club |
|---|---|
|
Corentin Tolisso |
Lyon |
| Eduardo Camavinga |
Real Madrid |
|
Matteo Guendouzi |
Marseille |
| Houssem Aouar |
Lyon |
|
Nabil Fekir |
Real Betis |
| Adrien Rabiot |
Juventus |
|
Aurelien Tchouameni |
Real Madrid |
| Jordan Veretout |
Marseille |
|
Tanguy N’Dombele |
Napoli |
| Dimitri Payet |
Marseille |
|
Florian Thauvin |
Tigres UANL |
| Thomas Lemar |
Atletico Madrid |
|
Jonathan Ikone |
Fiorentina |
Forwards
France’s front line has been boosted by Karim Benzema’s return, as the Ballon d’Or winner will play in his first World Cup since 2014. His return to the national set-up has massively benefited the Les Blues, having won the Nations League on the back of his exploits. Kylian Mbappe has also hit the right chord with the Real Madrid star, as the two will now try and wreck havoc at this year’s edition.
Elsewhere, Barca’s Osumane Dembele has apparently shrugged-off his injury issues and hit top form for the club, and could reclaim his starting spot as well. Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann and Christopher Nkunku will give a push for a place in the starting eleven as well.
| Name | Club |
|---|---|
|
Antoine Griezmann |
Atletico Madrid |
| Olivier Giroud |
AC Milan |
|
Anthony Martial |
Manchester United |
| Ousmane Dembele |
Barcelona |
|
Kylian Mbappe |
PSG |
| Karim Benzema |
Real Madrid |
|
Kingsley Coman |
Bayern Munich |
| Christopher Nkunku |
RB Leipzig |
|
Moussa Diaby |
Bayer Leverkusen |
| Wissam Ben Yedder |
Monaco |
The Probable Squad
Hugo Lloris, Steve Mandanda, Alphonse Areola, William Saliba, Ibrahima Konate, Presnel Kimpembe, Dayot Upamecano, Lucas Hernandez, Jules Kounde, Theo Hernandez, Ferland Mendy, Lucas Digne, Benjamin Pavard, Corentin Tolisso, Adrien Rabiot, Aurelien Tchouameni, Nabil Fekir, Eduardo Camavinga, Jordan Veretout, Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud, Ousmane Dembele, Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema, Christopher Nkunku, Kingsley Coman
The Strongest XI [4-2-3-1]
Lloris; Kounde, Saliba, L. Hernandez; Pavard, Tchouameni, Camavinga, T. Hernandez; Griezmann; Benzema, Mbappe