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Deschamps grapples with France's unresolved left-wing selection crisis ahead of key matches

A long-standing headache for Les Bleus deepens. With Barcola injured and Thuram out of position, who will earn Deschamps' trust on the left flank?

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3 min read
The image shows an old black and white photo of a rugby team, with a few people standing and a few...
The image shows an old black and white photo of a rugby team, with a few people standing and a few sitting in a squat position. There is a ball on the ground in front of them, and the words "Ligue Française de Rugby à Treize" written at the top and bottom of the image.

Deschamps grapples with France's unresolved left-wing selection crisis ahead of key matches

When his time as France manager comes to an end, Didier Deschamps will no doubt look back fondly on those moments in the team bus, on flights, or in his hotel room, where—alongside Guy Stephan—he would make the final decisions on his starting lineup for the next day. Some positions raise few questions. Others are far more contentious.

For years, the left-wing role has sparked debate. A quick—though far from exhaustive—look back at recent seasons shows just how unstable the pecking order has been. Kylian MbappĂ©, Blaise Matuidi, Adrien Rabiot, Kingsley Coman, Marcus Thuram, Bradley Barcola, DĂ©sirĂ© DouĂ©, and Hugo Ekitike have all featured on that flank at one time or another. Yet none has managed to establish themselves as the undisputed first choice for any length of time, and for varying reasons.

In an ideal world, Bradley Barcola would have been the natural pick for this squad. But with the Parisian sidelined by an ankle injury, Deschamps will have to explore other options. And as he has in the last five matches—fielding pairings like Hernandez-Ekitike, Digne-Barcola, Digne-Nkunku, Hernandez-Coman, and Hernandez-Thuram—he will once again seek stability by pairing the left winger with a left-back, either Lucas Digne or Theo Hernandez.

The France boss has made a habit of avoiding rigidity in major tournaments—as seen in the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2024—but seeing a settled duo emerge on the left would still bring a sense of reassurance.

After a string of solid performances for Les Bleus, Lucas Digne had grown concerned in recent months that his reduced playing time at Aston Villa might see history repeat itself, costing him a place at the World Cup in Russia or Qatar, as it had before. But having started three of Villa's last four league games, the full-back has silenced those fears—for himself and for the France coaching staff.

He now shares the left-back duties with Theo Hernandez, who, since his move to Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League, has had to contend with the challenges of family separation—his wife and two children have returned to Europe. Despite this, the former Milan man has delivered consistently. Yet two questions linger: Can he eliminate the occasional defensive lapses that still crop up? And will he have the athletic stamina required?

At Euro 2024, Deschamps was deeply disappointed by his lack of freshness. Depending on the winger's profile, Lucas Hernandez—who is regaining his best form after a strong run of late—remains a viable option.

Deschamps' suggestion on Thursday that he may carry three players per position is an intriguing one. On the left wing, beyond Mbappé—who is expected to play centrally—or more unconventional solutions like Rabiot, there are in fact four players in this squad who could fill the role: DouĂ©, Ekitike, Thuram, and Kolo Muani. Yet none is a true specialist. Bradley Barcola, based on his pre-injury form, remains the clear favorite to start at the World Cup. But who steps in behind him?

DouĂ© has the technical ability to play the role, but beyond his lack of experience in the position, does he possess the defensive discipline required? Ekitike, meanwhile, has shown surprising versatility in recent call-ups, with a real knack for hugging the touchline before cutting inside. However, the Liverpool forward—beyond the crutch he relied on last weekend—has been nursing a hip issue.

Marcus Thuram knows the expectations resting on him this time around. Though regularly deployed on the left—particularly during the Euros—the Inter Milan striker, a winger by trade, has not played there consistently for over three years. His strengths? His defensive work rate and his understanding with Kylian MbappĂ© in transitional play. Randal Kolo Muani, usually a central or right-sided forward, may seem an outside bet for the left-wing role, yet he has played there for Tottenham this season


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