France has announced their 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and injuries to their many stars have not done manager Didier Deschamps any favours.
The reigning defending champions will go to Qatar with a squad that is vastly different from the one which won the final four years ago in Moscow.
Barcelona centre-back Samuel Umtiti and AC Milan custodian Mike Maignan have not been able to make the shortlist for Les Bleus owing to injury issues.
The biggest absentees for many are the midfield duo of N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba, both of whom have been ravaged by injuries for some time now.
Deschamps could also revert to a back four after experimenting with a three-man back-line for some time and not having much success. We will know more for sure when they take on Australia in their opening fixture in Group D.
