France predicted XI v Spain: Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué set to start | OneFootball

France face Spain this Thursday at Stuttgart for the UEFA Nations League semi-final. For this Euro 2024 semi-final rematch, Les Bleus boss Didier Deschamps is expected to field a strong team, with two Champions League-winning PSG strikers. L’Equipe reports that Ousmane Dembélé will feature on the right wing, opposite to his centre-forward role with Luis Enrique’s Les Parisiens. Real Madrid striker and France captain Kylian Mbappé will lead the line.

A couple of days after his Man of the Match performance in the Champions League final against Inter Milan, Désiré Doué is set to start as a left-winger for what will only be his second senior France cap. Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise, who thrived as a No. 10 in the quarter-finals against Croatia, is set to get the nod again from Deschamps in a more central role. Against Spain’s talented midfielders, Deschamps will present a double pivot with Marseille’s Adrien Rabiot and Roma’s Manu Koné.

The defense could represent a weak link in France’s set-up, as Deschamps had to contend with many injuries at the back. With the absence of William Saliba, Jules Koundé and Dayot Upamecano, Juventus’ Pierre Kalulu is set to be handed his first France start on the right flank. Despite an unconvincing season with AC Milan, Théo Hernandez will roam on his left side. Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konaté is set to start alongside Atlético de Madrid’s Clément Lenglet, who hasn’t featured for Les Bleus since 2021. Chelsea target Mike Maignan will stand between the sticks.

France likely line-up v Spain

Mike Maignan; Pierre Kalulu, Ibrahima Konaté, Clément Lenglet, Théo Hernandez; Manu Koné, Michael Olise, Adrien Rabiot; Ousmane Dembélé, Kylian Mbappé, Désiré Doué. (L’Éq)

GFFN | Bastien Cheval