France's predicted lineup to face Gibraltar this Saturday

FBL-EURO-2024-QUALIFIER-FRA-TRAINING
FBL-EURO-2024-QUALIFIER-FRA-TRAINING | FRANCK FIFE/GettyImages

On Saturday night, the French national team hosts Gibraltar in Nice for the Euro 2024 qualifiers, and Didier Deschamps' squad is taking shape. Players from PSG are expected to start, while others might find themselves on the bench. Warren Zaire-Emery, in particular, could seize the opportunity due to Eduardo Camavinga's absence to make his debut with Les Bleus.

Thursday night at Clairefontaine, Didier Deschamps faced no further setbacks. Only Eduardo Camavinga, who sustained a knee injury following a collision with Ousmane Dembele on Wednesday, had to leave the camp and was replaced by Kephren Thuram. With just a day until the match, the French coach's lineup is starting to come together, and Warren Zaire-Emery might emerge as the big winner of this week.

Mike Maignan is expected in goal, while Lucas Hernandez, typically utilized as a left-back by Luis Enrique this season, is set to start in central defense, his preferred position, alongside Dayot Upamecano. His brother, Theo, is likely to begin at left-back, and Jonathan Clauss, chosen over Jules Kounde, should start at right-back.

In midfield, Didier Deschamps continues to field Antoine Griezmann, his "favorite" as per his own words, who is about to play his 83rd consecutive match for the French national team. Adrien Rabiot is expected to play alongside him, while Warren Zaire-Emery, called up for the first time last week by the 1998 World Cup champion, could be favored over Boubacar Kamara according to L'Equipe to compensate for Eduardo Camavinga's absence.

Finally, in the attack, Kylian Mbappe is obviously announced as a starter on the left wing, while recent PSG arrivals Ousmane Dembele and Randal Kolo Muani, affected by intense competition within Les Bleus, are expected on the bench. Kingsley Coman and Marcus Thuram are likely to be preferred to start on the right wing and at the forefront of the attack.

France's predicted lineup vs. Gibraltar: Maignan – Clauss, Upamecano, L. Hernandez, T. Hernandez – Griezmann, Zaire-Emery, Rabiot – Coman, M. Thuram, Mbappe.

Gibraltar's predicted lineup vs. France: Coleing – Mouelhi, Chipolina, Sergeant, Olivero – Pozo, Walker, Ballantine – De Barr, Ronco, Perera.