France World Cup squad: Who will support Kylian Mbappe with no Paul Pogba or N’Golo Kante in the squad?

10 November، 2022

23 1 minute read

Reigning World Cup champions France get their title defense underway when they face Australia in Group D at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah. Didier Deschamps believes that he has concocted the ideal starting XI that he will send Les Bleus into the tournament with as they seek to avoid the curse of the titleholders which has seen the likes of Germany and Spain fall victims in recent editions and exit in the group stage. Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante have already been ruled out of the Qatar event so the midfield picks itself to a degree, while Raphael Varane survived a significant injury scare to be included and Mike Maignan has yet to prove his fitness.

Let’s get to the lineup breakdown, and how I think the French team sheet will look in a rough 3-4-1-2 system:

Keeper

Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur): Deschamps’ captain of choice and France’s most senior shot-stopper. Had Maignan been fit, there might have been a little pressure on the 35-year-old. However, with the AC Milan man as good as out, there will be absolutely zero debate on this position unless Lloris’ availability is compromised at the very last minute.