L’Équipe report today that the competition in the midfield position for a spot in the France World Cup squad – which Didier Deschamps announces tonight in a meticulously-planned TV appearance – could well see Marseille’s Mattéo Guendouzi miss out.
With Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kanté missing out due to injury, Les Bleus will have to make do without their two midfield veterans who led them at the 2018 World Cup.
Deschamps could be set to take five midfielders to Qatar, although an extra man in the middle would not be out of the question. Adrien Rabiot, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Youssouf Fofana are seen as certain picks – the latter two having impressed in the last international break and the Juventus man in good form with his club.
The final spots among the midfielders will be filled by two of Eduardo Camavinga, Jordan Veretout and Mattéo Guendouzi, with the first two seen as potentially having an advantage over the former Arsenal man. Tanguy Ndombele’s performance with Serie A-topping Napoli have impressed, but come too late.
Guendouzi, a French international since 2021, made his move to Marseille from the Gunners permanent over the summer and has been a key part of both Jorge Sampaoli and Igor Tudor’s lineups.
GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin
