It has become a habit, of which Didier Deschamps would go well. The coach of the French male football team presented, Thursday, October 2, his list of 23 players for the next matches of the Qualifying Cup for the 2026 World Cup, in front of plug the holes.
After being confronted with a hecatombe in defense, in June, then several absences in September, the boss of the Blues still had to compose with a series of packages, in particular in attack, before the meetings against Azerbaijan, on October 10 at the Parc des Princes, in Paris, then against Iceland, on 13, in Reykjavik. After an ideal beginnings thanks to two victories against Ukraine (2-0) and Iceland (2-1), these two meetings must allow its troops to take an additional step towards the planetary tournament organized in the United States, Canada and Mexico (from June 11 to July 19, 2026).
In the offensive sector, the unavailability cascade is impressive. It concerns the recent Ballon d’Or, Ousmane Dembélé, and Désiré Doué, still convalescent after their injuries that occurred against Ukraine, on September 5, which had aroused strong tensions between their Paris Saint-Germain club and the supervision of the Habs.
High -flight start to the season for Kylian Mbappé
Same scenario for Rayan Cherki, who has still not replayed with Manchester City since August 23, after a tear at a thigh. To these unavailability were added those of Marcus Thuram, hit in the left thigh during the victory of Inter Milan against Slavia Prague (3-0) on Tuesday, and Randal Kolo Muani, who recoveries a crutch and only played 13 minutes with his new Tottenham club.
“Each time there are more or less constraints (…) Inevitably, with longer injured or new, this leads to reflections ”recognized Didier Deschamps. The latter therefore had to rethink its offensive sector, retaining the Monegasque Maghnes Akliouche and the Al-Nassr striker, in Arabia-Saudi, Kingsley Coman, who had already participated in the last rally and has a beautiful experience in blue (59 selections, 8 goals).
However, the real surprise of this list is due to the summons of Jean-Philippe Mateta, called for the very first time. At 28, the Crystal Palace striker digitally replaces Marcus Thuram as a center forward. The one who started professional in Châteauroux had shone during the Olympic Games in the summer of 2024, scoring five goals, and had largely contributed to the vice-champion of the team then trained by Thierry Henry. Didier Deschamps praised the profile ” interesting “ of this athletic player, who has “Known all youth selections” and has a “Ability to score goals”. He scored four in ten games, all competitions combined, since the start of the season with the London team.
Another major fact, the return of Christopher Nkunku, after eleven months without playing with the Blues. Arrived at AC Milan, after a difficult passage to Chelsea, the ex-Parisian did not “Not been spared from injuries, but he has significant potential”observed the boss of the Blues. “” I am convinced of the potential and capacity of this player ”he said, saying having “Trust in him”.
They will be associated with Captain Kylian Mbappé, who has a successful start to the season with Real Madrid (13 goals in nine games), alongside Michael Olise, also in great shape with Bayern Munich. Hugo Ekitike, who made promising beginnings in Liverpool, and Le Parisien Bradley Barcola are also in this list.
Back from William Saliba in Defense
On the other hand, despite the noises that ran on his possible summons, Florian Thauvin was not called. Author of a good start to the season with Lens, the 2018 world champion, aged 32, will still have to wait to make his return to the Blues, six years after his last invitation, in June 2019. At the time, he had scored against Andorra (4-0), his only goal in ten selections.
In the midfield, Didier Deschamps must fill the absence of Aurélien Tchouaméni, suspended two games for the red card received against Iceland. Alongside AS Roma player, Manu Koné, who quickly established himself in the midfield of the Blues in recovery, and Adrien Rabiot, already at ease at AC Milan, where he arrived this summer from Marseille, the boss of the Blues chose Khephren Thuram, author of a good start to the season at Juventus Turin, as well as Eduardo Camavanga. Injured at the end of last season, the latter returned to the competition and even scored during the Real Madrid victory in Almaty (5-0) on Tuesday in the Champions League.
In defense, Didier Deschamps can finally be delighted to count on the return of William Saliba. Wounded a month ago and also forfeited in June, the Arsenal player finally returns to train the central hinge with Dayot Upamecano, new boss of the tricolor rear guard in recent months. Both will be responsible for solidifying a gaming sector which was once the great strong point of the Blues, but now constitutes its main weak point, as the five goals conceded in particular in front of Spain, at the beginning of June (defeat of the Blues 5-4).
The list of 23 selected players:
Guards : Lucas Chevalier, Mike Maignan, Brice Samba
Defenders : Lucas Digne, Malo Gusto, Lucas Hernandez, Théo Hernandez, Ibrahima Konaté, Jules Koundé, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano
Circles : Eduardo Camavonga, Manu Koné, Michael Olise, Adrien Rabiot, Khephren Thuram
Attackers : Maghnes Akliouche, Bradley Barcola, Kingsley Coman, Hugo Ekitike, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Kylian Mbappé, Christopher Nkunku