Who could replace Kylian Mbappé and Jules Koundé on France’s United States tour? | OneFootball

Didier Deschamps faces selection puzzles for France’s United States tour from 23 to 30 March, with Kylian Mbappé and Jules Koundé both doubtful. The window could offer another opening for Hugo Ekitike.

According to L'Équipe, this is the only international window in six months, squeezed between Champions League last 16 and quarter-finals. France meet Brazil in Foxborough on 26 March, then Colombia three days later in Landover.

Mbappé has a left-knee sprain, after consulting Lyon-based specialist Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet and spending a few days in France. Koundé sustained a thigh injury on Tuesday during Barcelona’s Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Atlético Madrid, clouding plans for a full rehearsal.

If Mbappé travels mainly for social and commercial duties, Deschamps will have to probe other attacking options. Ousmane Dembélé is the natural stand-in, but he is returning from injury and his use remains delicate after repeated setbacks.

An attacking unit of Ekitike, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Christopher Nkunku and Akliouche started in Azerbaijan, a 3-1 win on 16 November, and is a natural fallback. Thuram is also in the frame, as are Olise, Cherki and Barcola, who began against Ukraine, a 4-0 victory, three days earlier when Mbappé struck twice and made one.

Specifically at centre-forward, Dembélé and Ekitike appear slightly ahead behind Mbappé, while Mateta has not featured since a knee injury scuppered his late-January move to AC Milan.

The Koundé vacancy looks clearer. Last June in the Nations League, Deschamps turned to Pierre Kalulu against Spain, a 4-5 defeat, then handed Malo Gusto his first start versus Germany, a 2-0 win, three days later. With Jonathan Clauss seemingly not foremost despite improved end product, Warren Zaïre-Emery has impressed over time in that role for PSG.

The staff could see Zaïre-Emery as a third right-back in a 26, listed as a midfielder, echoing Eduardo Camavinga’s left-side role at the 2022 World Cup, and may outline plans later this month. Gusto, competing with Reece James, the captain and leading set-piece taker at Chelsea, started at Aston Villa in a 4-1 win on Wednesday but went off on 75 minutes. The extent of his issue and whether Deschamps can call him remain to be seen, as does any possible reshuffle among the goalkeepers.

Source: L'Équipe