Greece-France: Kolo Muani, Saliba and Lucas Hernandez starters, Mbappé on the bench, the composition of the Blues

2023-11-21 20:21:09

Asked Monday at a press conference, on the eve of the match against Greece, about the captaincy of Kylian Mbappé, Didier Deschamps had implicitly validated his presence by responding “Yes, it is planned (Editor’s note: let it be)” . However, the Blues star is finally spared and leaves, according to our information, the left flank of the attack to Randal Kolo Muani, his partner in club and selection.

The programming of PSG-Monaco this Friday, November 24 necessarily weighed in this choice made this Tuesday after an exchange between the coach and the crack of Bondy author of 10 goals this season in the French team. The latter had started all the Blues’ matches in 2023 with the exception of the trip to Germany where he remained on the bench due to a small problem with his patella tendon (2-1).

The composition of the Blues

Samba – Koundé, Saliba, L. Hernandez, T Hernandez – Griezmann (cap.), Fofana, Rabiot – Dembélé, Giroud, Kolo Muani

“I have several players (6) who are playing on Friday evening. If I take all that into account, I bring the technical staff into play! We are never safe from anything. Football is a contact sport. If there is a feeling in a player, I take it into account, clarified, again, Deschamps when asked if he would take into account in his choices the very busy schedules of his internationals. If I have negative elements, I will not force it. I take all that into account as much as possible and distribute the time with the five changes. We have to adapt for the future. »

Griezmann, Théo Hernandez and Rabiot alone survivors

Always listening to the feelings of his players, Deschamps therefore saw fit to let Mbappé breathe in accordance with the player’s wishes. PSG, already deprived of Warren Zaire-Emery, injured against Gibraltar (14-0), will appreciate until the end of the year. DD could, however, launch the 3rd for the 2023 Ballon d’Or during the match.

Randal Kolo Muani, withdrawn in club at PSG as in selection, this fall hopes, this time, to show himself, finally, in his best light. “He can do better,” agreed Deschamps. I find him very professional. He has a smile. He must maintain this serenity. The context is different. He still has steps to take. He remains a young player who experienced a lot in his career last season. “.

For the rest as planned, Deschamps made a very large turnover with no less than eight changes compared to the eleven which started against Gibraltar. Adrien Rabiot, returned to the midfield with Youssouf Fofana (suspended against Paris), is one of the three survivors of the record success with Antoine Griezmann. The Colchoneros, in passing, have an 84th consecutive match in the tricolor jersey. The defense is modified almost entirely with the return of Jules Koundé on the right and Lucas Hernandez in the axis associated with Saliba. Théo Hernandez keeps his position on the left. Finally, Brice Samba honors his 2nd selection.