Lacroix out for several weeks, fresh defensive headache for Zidane

Maxence Lacroix will be sidelined for several weeks after suffering a thigh injury during Chelsea’s trip to Liverpool in the League Cup on Wednesday evening. His absence from France’s next two UEFA Nations League matches is unavoidable, with a return hoped for before the end of the year.

The news comes a week before Zinédine Zidane announces his squad for November’s fixtures against Italy in Milan and Turkey in Bordeaux. It adds to a string of absences that seriously complicates selection: Ousmane Dembélé is already ruled out, while Estéban Lepaul and Manu Koné are at best highly doubtful.

The Chelsea central defender, a former Crystal Palace player, had gradually established himself in the France squad in recent months. He notably deputised for William Saliba in the World Cup semi-final against Spain.

The situation at centre-back is all the more delicate because Saliba, troubled by a back injury, is also still sidelined. To compensate for these absences, Zidane should rely on Dayot Upamecano, Jérémy Jacquet and Ibrahima Konaté. The question of a fourth centre-back remains open.

Ismaëlo Ganiou could have been in contention for a call-up, but the Lens defender is currently nursing a knee injury. Zidane could then turn to Joane Gadou, the Dortmund defender not yet called up to the senior squad, or Castello Lukeba (Leipzig), who has one cap dating back to 2023. France’s pool of talent at this position remains deep, but circumstances are forcing the manager to accelerate his choices.