Upamecano, Kolo Muani, Koundé… Strongly renewed Blues to challenge Greece

We do not change a winning team, of course, but when it is wrong to annoy its followers, and a coach is at the end of the end of an interminable season, the maxim no longer holds. Even at 3-0. Thus, from the starting 11 set up by Didier Deschamps on Friday to bring back three points from Gibraltar (finally from Faro in Portugal, the scene of the meeting), the coach of the Blues only kept seven players to welcome Greece this Monday at the Stade de France (8:45 p.m.), in what already looks like a crucial match for qualification – France could take a six-point lead over their pursuers if successful. If the midfielder is not affected by this important rotation, with always the same trio Tchouaméni-Camavinga-Griezmann to animate the midfield, the defense and to a lesser degree the attack, they are turned upside down.

Behind, after the interlude Brice Samba who lived a first selection in Blue of a rare tranquility against the modest amateurs of Gibraltar, Mike Maignan finds his place in the hexagonal goal. Another expected return, that of Dayot Upamecano in the central axis, instead of Wesley Fofana. Unsurprisingly, Deschamps therefore maintains his confidence in the tandem made up of the Bavarian and Ibrahima Konaté, who have never been unworthy so far, quite the contrary. On the sides, if Théo Hernandez keeps his hand on the left flank, it is not the same on the right where Benjamin Pavard gives way to Jules Koundé, in this curious alternation of centrals coming to help out on one side. Koundé, whose defensive profile is more assured, is the coach's preference against a Greek formation presented as much more playful than its glorious predecessor European champion in 2004.

In attack, even if he opened the way with his 54th goal in selection, Olivier Giroud will start on the bench against the Hellenes. Randal Kolo Muani will occupy the forefront of the attack with on his left the indestructible Kylian Mbappé, still captain even if he was exempted from his media mission on Sunday in favor of a Griezmann lending himself to the exercise of the conference of press. On the right flank, Kingsley Coman retains the advantage against Ousmane Dembélé, whose comeback against Gibraltar was not a great success. Except that he had shown gas in his legs, which could always prove useful in this last game of the season, before a well-deserved vacation. Finally, they will be fully in case of success against Greece this Monday evening, of course.

Maignan - Kound, Upamecano, Konate, T. Hernandez - Chouamen, Camvinga, Griezmann - Coman, Mbappe, Kolo Muani