Benzema IN, Pogba OUT: France WC Squad Announced

With 10 days until the FIFA World Cup, holders France have named a 25-man squad aiming to defend the most prestigious trophy in world football.

On Wednesday, the Fédération Francaise de Football (FFF) announced its squad that will represent Les Bleus at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Several high-profile players have missed out on selection, predominantly due to injuries, but overall the reigning world champions have named a strong and experienced group to defend their crown.

Let’s take a closer look at the 25 players called up by France manager Didier Deschamps:

– Goalkeepers

Deschamps has recalled the same three goalkeepers as he did four years ago in Russia. France skipper Hugo Lloris looks set to retain his place in goal, with Alphonse Areola and Steve Mandanda his understudies.

Lloris, 35, is the second-most capped France player of all-time and three more outings with the national team would see equal a record 142 caps for Les Bleus, held by ex-defender and 1998 World Cup winner Lilian Thuram.

Areola and Mandanda will be looking to yield some minutes from Lloris, though as it stands the Tottenham goalie is first-choice for France in between the sticks.

Mike Maignan was snubbed for selection as the AC Milan keeper has been out with a calf injury since late September.

– Defenders

Of the eight defenders that helped France ascend to the top of the world in 2018, four have retained their places for the upcoming edition of the tournament. In total, Deschamps has selected one defender more than he had done pre-Russia.

Presnel Kimpembe and Benjamin Pavard return for another World Cup bow, while centre-back Raphael Varane has been included after picking up a thigh injury with Manchester United in recent weeks.

Lucas Hernández also makes the list after missing France’s UEFA Nations League clashes in September, although the Bayern Munich man has featured in each of his club’s last two domestic matches. Lucas’ younger brother, Theo, earns a maiden World Cup call-up courtesy of a promising few years with Italian side AC Milan.

Jules Koundé makes the cut despite battling injuries of late and he has featured in just half of Barcelona’s 20 matches in LaLiga and Champions League this season. Koundé has been unavailable for each of Barca’s last three matches as the centre-half bids to overcome a thigh problem.

William Saliba, 21, has earned a place in the squad following a splendid start to the season with Premier League leaders Arsenal. Ibrahima Konaté of Liverpool and Bayern centre-back Dayot Upamecano are also in the mix.

Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana is out with a knee injury, while Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid) and Pierre Kalulu (AC Milan) are unfortunate to miss out on selection.

William Saliba could be set to not only start but become a key player for France at the World Cup. Few are better 1v1. PL CBs (500mins+) best % of dribblers tackled (FBRef):

🇫🇷 91.7 | William Saliba (Arsenal)
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 88.9 | Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa)
🇨🇭 84.9 | Manuel Akanji (Man. City)

— Get French Football News (@GFFN) November 8, 2022

– Midfielders

In the centre of the pitch, Deschamps has to contend without two of his most important ingredients from four years ago as Paul Pogba (knee) and N’Golo Kante (hamstring) are both ruled out of action beyond the tournament in Qatar.

With the two senior central midfielders out of the equation, the door opens for Real Madrid pair Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga to show their importance to their national team.

Tchouameni, 22, earned his senior international debut in September 2021 and he has since become a regular fixture in midfield for his country, with 14 caps to his name ahead of the World Cup. Camavinga is the third-youngest player to represent France, making his debut aged 17 years & 9 months, although he had collected just four caps prior to his inclusion in the World Cup squad, on the eve of his 20th birthday.

Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot is also heading to the Middle East with his nation, as are Youssouf Fofana (Monaco), Matteo Guendouzi and Jordan Veretout (both Marseille).

It must be acknowledged that without the experienced pair of Pogba and Kanté, France’s engine room is considerably inferior to midfield units of other participating countries at the tournament. The six midfielders called up by Deschamps have an average age of 24 years and all of them are braced for a maiden World Cup bow.

– Forwards

In attack, France are by no means lacking potency and vigour. Karim Benzema recently suffered an injury setback but the Ballon d’Or winner is expected to regain fitness in time for the World Cup beginning in 10 days’ time.

Kylian Mbappé and Christopher Nkunku have been in sharp form so far this term, while Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud have also chipped in with a few goals for their respective clubs. Ousmane Dembélé and Kingsley Coman offer serious quality in wide areas for Les Bleus.

These seven forwards have netted a combined 62 goals this season (league and Europe), with Mbappé (18) and Nkunku (17) responsible for more than half of those.

Dembélé, Giroud, Griezmann, and Mbappé were all part of the winning squad in 2018 and although said players have all aged four years, they all still possess quality and goal-scoring nous in abundance.

Mbappé was the starboy of the tournament in Russia but now the 23-year-old will be the main man with heaps of pressure on his shoulders. The Paris St-Germain striker is not shy of a world-class support system and he may have his mind focussed on some of the individual awards on offer at the showpiece event.

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France are in Group D with Australia and Denmark (these three nations were also grouped together in 2018), as well as Tunisia.

Les Bleus are out to debunk the infamous World Cup holders’ curse, which has seen each of the three previous world champions (Italy, Spain, and Germany) dumped out of the succeeding tournament in the group stage.

According to Bet365, France are the third-favourites to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup, at odds of 7.00. Mbappé is second-favourite to win the Golden Boot (top goalscorer), with odds of 10.00, and he is also the joint-favourite to scoop the Golden Ball (player of the tournament) at 11.00.