Defensive massacre, Cherki's new addition... Deschamps releases his list of 25 players for the clash against Spain in the Nations League

Cherki's name, 21, has been a regular fixture in recent months with each of Les Bleus' squad announcements, but the OL player remained available to the U21s. The coach has finally decided to end the suspense by enlisting him for the Nations League Final Four, which will begin with a semi-final against the European champions on June 5 in Stuttgart.

After a season that saw him take on a new dimension and be crowned best passer in Ligue 1, the dribbler will therefore discover the senior team, thus silencing speculation about his choice of selection while he was likely to join both the Algerian and Italian national teams due to his family origins.

France eventually won the match, but Deschamps denied having wanted to force Cherki's international destiny, hiding behind purely sporting criteria.

"I have never blocked a player or prevented him from choosing. When I take them, it's for our needs, but not to prevent them from doing anything else. At no time have I played with that since I became coach," he defended himself.

"Rayan could have been there in March too, given what he's achieved with his club, where he's been much more decisive, both through his goals and his assists," he added.

His promotion to the senior team will, however, deprive him of the Euro Espoirs (June 11 - June 28 in Slovakia) with the Bleuets, of which he was until now a pillar, Deschamps specified.

Defense on the flank

With the coach opting for an expanded list of 25 players, no attacker is affected by the arrival of Cherki, who will join the usual attacking players (Kylian Mbappé, Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, Randal Kolo Muani, Michael Olise, Marcus Thuram).

The rest of Deschamps' squad is marked by significant defensive absences. With Dayot Upamecano (knee), William Saliba (hamstring), and Jules Koundé (thigh) unavailable, almost the entire starting rearguard of Les Bleus is sidelined. Not exactly reassuring before challenging the flamboyant attack of La Roja, led by the prodigy Lamine Yamal.

Without his defensive pillars, the coach had to cast a wide net, recalling veterans such as Lucas Hernandez (29 years old), who has been out for a year, and Clément Lenglet (29), whose last appearance for the French national team dates back to November 2021. A situation which also benefits youngsters Malo Gusto (22 years old), Loïc Badé (25 years old) and Pierre Kalulu (24 years old).

In midfield, Deschamps will also be without the injured Eduardo Camavinga (hamstring). But Deschamps has not called up any new players to replace him.

Beyond this cascade of forfeits, Deschamps must also contend with the constraints of the calendar and the consequences of an extended season. The coach has scheduled the start of training for May 30, but the international match window doesn't begin until June 2, and clubs are under no obligation to release their players earlier, according to FIFA regulations.

"If some clubs decide to release their players on the 2nd, which is the official date, there's nothing I can do about it. The schedules have always been busy, and international windows are getting shorter and shorter. I'm adapting, but the players are in high demand," he said.

The question does not arise for the seven players involved in the Champions League final between PSG and Inter Milan (Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola, Warren Zaïre-Emery, Désiré Doué, Lucas Hernandez, Marcus Thuram, Benjamin Pavard), on May 31 in Munich. They are not expected at the National Football Center in Clairefontaine before June 2, just three days before the Nations League semi-final against Spain.

The 25 selected Blues

Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Lucas Chevalier (Lille), Brice Samba (Rennes)

Defenders: Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool), Benjamin Pavard (Inter Milan), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Lucas Hernandez (PSG), Loïc Badé (Sevilla FC), Malo Gusto (Chelsea), Pierre Kalulu (Juventus Turin), Clément Lenglet (Atlético), Lucas Digne (Aston Villa)

Midfielders: Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid), Mattéo Guendouzi (Lazio Rome), Manu Koné (AS Roma), Adrien Rabiot (Marseille), Warren Zaïre-Emery (PSG)

Forwards: Désiré Doué (PSG), Bradley Barcola (PSG), Ousmane Dembélé (PSG), Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid), Randal Kolo Muani (Juventus Turin), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan), Rayan Cherki (Lyon).