French media "League" reported that in response to Cherki's almost certain absence and Ottoman Dembele's injury on Saturday, the French coaching staff prepared sufficient alternatives for the two World Cup qualifiers against Ukrain...
French media "League" reported that in response to Cherki's almost certain absence and Ottoman Dembele's injury on Saturday, the French coaching staff prepared sufficient alternatives for the two World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine on September 5 and Iceland on September 9. Whether it is Ekitic, Gondozi or other players, the choice depends on the specific position required.
What can be determined is that it will take some more time to wait. Three months ago, Cherki performed well in the first national team against Spain in the European League semi-finals (4-5), but now he is unable to participate in the training camp starting Monday afternoon. The Manchester City striker missed Sunday's match against Brighton due to a thigh muscle strain.
In the face of this possible absence, the French coaching staff has quite a few alternatives. Cherki is mainly regarded as a No. 10 player in Deschamps' 4-2-3-1 formation. Does his replacement need to have the same characteristics? This is the focus of the discussion.
In addition to Michael Oris, at least three players on this training list can compete for this position: Dembele, Aklius (although Deschamps prefers to place him on the wing), Desir Duere, and even Rabiot (often forwards in Marseille in recent months).
Although Dembele can compete for this position, the Paris Saint-Germain player defeated Toulouse 6-3 on Saturday in Paris It is uncertain whether he can appear at the ClayFontaine training base on Monday. He said in an interview after the game: "I will do an MRI, but I don't think the injury is serious." Therefore, the coaching staff needs to discuss urgently in the next few hours to find one or two replacements for this crucial training camp. If Deschamps chooses to replace Cherki with a typical No. 10 player, then Lazio midfielder Gondozi (who held this position last season) has a greater chance.
Yusuf Fofana also has a chance? The last time the AC Milan player was selected for the national team was in October 2024. He likes to take offensive responsibilities, but Deschamps prefers to place him in a relatively backward position. If the coach believes that The versatility of players such as Yuduai, the No. 10 position has been guaranteed, and he may consider recalling Paris Saint-Germain's Zaire Emery, who lost to the initial list of this period due to unstable playing time in Paris.
So what about Ekitic? At a press conference on Wednesday, Deschamps mentioned: "We have been paying attention to Ekitic. We have been paying attention to him during his time in Frankfurt. If he continues to be efficient at Liverpool, that's good. But the competition at this position is fierce, and I won't call people to make up for the numbers, but he does have the potential to be selected for the national team." In this period, except Mbappe, only Marcus Toulam is a typical center. If Dembele is missing in the end, this Liverpool striker will have a real opportunity.
