Deschamps puts faith in newcomers
Portugal ready for crucial clash with Hungary
>> PARIS: France coach Didier Deschamps will be without the world’s most expensive player in his team’s World Cup qualifier against Luxembourg today.
Even without the suspended Paul Pogba, there is little reason for Group A leaders to be worried.
Deschamps can count on the new crop of French players — a gifted generation that includes teenager Kylian Mbappe.
The 18-year-old Monaco striker, who has scored a league goal every 82 minutes this season, is among the five newcomers included in Deschamps’ squad, alongside Monaco defender Benjamin Mendy (22), Marseille winger Florian Thauvin (24), Lyon midfielder Corentin Tolisso (22) and Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko (22).
France will also be without Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema who has asked Deschamps for an explanation on why he was not selected for the match against Luxembourg.
Benzema had been indefinitely banned from the France team after being charged with conspiracy to blackmail in a sextape scandal involving teammate Mathieu Valbuena, but the ban was lifted last September.
However, he has been left frustrated after not being picked for the trip to Luxembourg and next week’s friendly against Spain.
“I find it unfair because I did not have any explanation. I am a man and I’d like an explanation on why I haven’t been called up,” Benzema said.
“What I would like is to have a conversation with the coach, so that he can tell me what he thinks, I have to know.”
Benzema, who won the last of 81 caps in October 2015, is hopeful he can still earn some more international caps.
“I have not ended my international career, I don’t want to give up,” he said.
“It is tough [to be omitted] when you play in a big club. I love football, the big games. The national team gives you top-class matches.”
France have a three-point lead over the Netherlands, who travel to Bulgaria.
Level on points with the Dutch, Sweden host Belarus.
In Group B, losing to Hungary could seriously jeopardise t he chances of Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal making it to the World Cup. It would be some fall for the first-time European champions.
“Every team want to beat the European champions and that only motivates us to keep doing better,” Portugal midfielder Joao Mario said ahead of today’s home match.
Portugal are only two points ahead of Hungary in second place and already facing the possibility of having to contest a play-off to make the final tournament in Russia.
Switzerland lead t he group, holding a three-point advantage over Portugal heading into today’s game against next-to-last Latvia. Andorra, yet to earn a point, host the Faeroe Islands.
In Group H, the top-two meet today, with Belgium looking to maintain their perfect record when they host Greece and extend their lead to five points.
Bosnia-Herzegovina are three points behind Greece in third place but have an easy game against Gibraltar, which are without a point.
Cyprus and Estonia, who have little prospect of making the play-offs, play each other.