The PSG winger, who has suffered a right hamstring injury, has declared his withdrawal for Israel and Italy in the Nations League. He has been replaced by a returnee, Kingsley Coman.
Monday was a day of forfeits for the French national team. After Wesley Fofana (knee), replaced by Benjamin PavardIt’s Ousmane Dembélé’s turn (hamstring) to pull out of the last Bleus gathering in 2024. Le Parisien “offers” Kingsley Coman a chance of a comeback. The Bayern Munich winger, who was little used during the Euros, had not been called up since his adventure in Germany.
The Munich winger’s return, coupled with that of the Milanese, is no coincidence in Didier Deschamps’ mind. Faced with the task of rebuilding a France squad that has been decimated since the Euro (Griezmann and Giroud retired, Mbappé absent, Tchouaméni injured, etc.), Deschamps has welcomed back Coman and Pavard, sending out a signal that he has not forgotten them. It’s a powerful gesture for the last match of the year. If he had called up other players in place of these two men, who have 57 and 54 caps respectively, for a total of 111 caps, Deschamps would have had a hard time “recovering” them mentally in 2025. After the Euro, Coman (28) is said to have wondered about his international future, when Pavard (28) recently reiterated his desire to return to the French national team..
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Pavard and Coman’s experience counted for Deschamps
The situation has changed, and in a squad in search of a new balance, the experience of the Pavard-Coman duo also counts in the coach’s considerations. With a match against Italy expected in Milan on Sunday, in what looks like revenge for the Italians’ September demonstration (1-3 victory at the Parc des Princes), Deschamps has seen fit to recall the two players in his quest for leadership in the French dressing room. It remains to be seen whether they will have a card to play on the pitch. On Pavard’s side, there are doubts. As for Coman, it’s highly likely.