Rayan Cherki called for the first time in the French team, Didier Deschamps facing a hecatombe in defense

It is the main attraction of the extended list of 25 players summoned by Didier Deschamps for the “Final Four” of the League of Football Nations: the Lyon striker Rayan Cherki was called for the first time in the French team to face Spain, on June 5 in Stuttgart in the semi-finals, announced the coach on Wednesday, May 21. The same group will then play the final or match for third place in European competition, against Germany or Portugal, on June 8, respectively in Munich or Stuttgart.

Didier Deschamps highlighted the successful services of the 21 -year -old international hopes with Olympique Lyonnais (OL), “Where he was much more decisive, through his goals and passes”. Appointed in the Type of Ligue 1 team during the UNFP trophies, this pure product in the Lyon training was involved on 32 OL goals this season – 12 goals and 20 assists in 44 games, all competitions combined.

Capable of rare technical gestures, the Lyon playmaker, who could change clubs soon, has finally managed to be regular and decisive in his performances this season, after having been perceived as a player capable of dazzling, only intermittently. As if he had reached a form of maturity.

While he was also eligible for Algerian and Italian selections, his arrival at the Blues therefore ends the uncertainty about his international career. Didier Deschamps refuted to have summoned him for this reason: “I take a player when I believe it’s time and I need it”he said. His promotion with the A, on the other hand, will deprive him of the Euro Espoirs (June 11-June 28 in Slovakia) with the Blueberries, of which he was until then one of the pillars, said the coach.

Pierre Kalulu summoned for the first time

Beyond this individual case, the coach must, on the other hand, do without almost all of his usual defense, with the absences of three executives, who all have physical concerns: Dayot Upamecano (left knee), William Saliba (muscle injury) and Jules Koundé (hamstring). Absences compensated by the selections of players less used to evolving in blue (Loïc Badé, Malo Gusto and Clément Lenglet) or summoned for the first time by Didier Deschamps (Pierre Kalulu). Also note: the return of Lucas Hernandez, who returned to competition with PSG in December 2024 after a break in the cross ligaments of the left knee. The coach prays so that he has no other absence to compensate: “There are still important matches to play, I hope there will be no breakage”he said.

This hecatombe in defense is not a very good omen with a view to the duel against Spain, which had eliminated France in the semi-finals of Euro 2024. “We know that we have one of the best in front of us, if not the best team at the international level”estimated the coach, insisting on the difficulty of blocking the prodigy of FC Barcelona, ​​Lamine Lamal, who “Do unusual things”. “I have not seen a team that really found the solution” To arrest him, he noted, suggesting that the Blues could be tempted to play against the Spanish, given their “Ability above the average to have control of the ball”. “Few teams were able to compete in this plan …”he insisted.

If, in the midfield, the coach will also not be able to count on Eduardo Camavonga, injury package (ischio-leg), he will have several very high level offensive arguments, with Kylian Mbappé, Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, Randal Kolo Muani, Michael Olise and Marcus Thuram.

Regarding the offensive animation, the coach did not want to specify how he plans to associate Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, who both evolve in the axis in their respective club, Real Madrid and PSG. “I am always in reflection to have the most dangerous offensive animation”a dit Deschamps.

“International windows are increasingly short”

The matching conditions of the match against Spain are not optimal for the coach of the Blues, who must compose with the calendar very busy with his players. The “Final Four” of the League of Nations taking place shortly after the Champions League final (LDC) on May 31 in Munich, and before the Club World Cup in the United States, from June 14 to July 13. Didier Deschamps has to face the discontent of clubs, who do not all want to let go of their players from the start of the rally planned in Clairefontaine (Yvelines), from Friday, May 30.

While the coach wishes to have six days to prepare the match against Spain, some clubs – in particular Real Madrid – do not want to release their players before Monday, June 2, official start of the international break, according to FIFA regulations. “If some clubs decide to release their players on June 2, I won’t be able to do anything”he underlined, with regret.

The seven blues, which participate in the LDC final (Marcus Thuram and Benjamin Pavard on the Inter Milan side; Lucas Hernandez, Warren Zaïre-Emery, Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué on the PSG side), will not be able to join the selection that on evening in the evening, said the coach. “International windows are increasingly short, I adapt”, he launched, without hiding his annoyance with regard to seasons “More and more busy, with physical fatigue that bring injuries and psychological wear”. And finally, a weakened selection, which must fight with the clubs to have its players.