Didier spoilt for choice in the striking force
France boast young team
Istra, Russia – With several top-notch forwards at his disposal, France coach Didier Deschamps has tough choices to make ahead of his young team’s World Cup opener against Australia, and the experienced Olivier Giroud could find himself on the bench. The 31-year-old Chelsea striker, who has scored 31 goals in 74 games for his country, sustained a cut on his forehead in France’s last warm-up match against the US but has been training with a bandage around his head. Deschamps, however, is expected to leave Giroud out of the starting line-up for their first Group C match in Kazan tomorrow, having fielded him with the substitutes’ team in training on Wednesday. Kylian Mbappe, 19, and 21year-old Ousmane Dembele, who have linked up impressively during the build-up matches, should start along with Antoine Griezmann, 27, to form a fearsome trio. “We are three players who appreciate each other. We put our egos on the side,” said Mbappe, who added he was “100%” after taking a knock on his ankle at training earlier this week. “There are not a lot of teams who have a better attacking line-up than us.” Should Corentin Tolisso, 23, start in midfield and Blaise Matuidi, 31, stay on the bench, it could be the youngest French team to start a World Cup since 1930. Nothing to worry about, says Mbappe. “It can be a strength. We can bring some carefreeness, some joie de vivre in a competition where pressure is always weighing on the squad,” the striker said. In defence, Lucas Hernandez and Benjamin Pavard, both 22, are likely to start on the flanks after impressive displays in the warm-up games, in the absence of the injured Djibril Sidibe. Sidibe has been suffering from a knee injury but French federation president Noël Le Graët indicated he would not be ruled out of the tournament.