Zidane forced to improvise against Italy with eight France players absent

Zinédine Zidane will have to manage without eight players to face Italy in the Nations League on Thursday evening in Milan (20:45), with a centre-back pairing and left flank still undecided just hours before kick-off.

To the absences already known before the squad gathering — William Saliba, Jules Koundé, Maxence Lacroix, Manu Koné, Maghnes Akliouche, Ousmane Dembélé and Estéban Lepaul — have been added since Monday the withdrawals of Pierre Kalulu, Aurélien Tchouameni, Marcus Thuram and Kylian Mbappé. An accumulation that forces the manager to fundamentally reshape his starting eleven.

In goal, Mike Maignan is announced as undisputed starter. The centre-back pairing, however, is subject to differing interpretations: L’Équipe places Jérémy Jacquet alongside Dayot Upamecano, while RMC Sport mentions a possible start for Ibrahima Konaté. In the left flank, Andy Diouf and Adrien Truffert are competing for the spot, with Le Parisien leaning towards the latter from the start.

The midfield appears settled: Rayan Cherki, Lucas Da Cunha and captain Adrien Rabiot would form the central trio. In attack, Michael Olise is expected on the right, Bradley Barcola on the left and Désiré Doué in the centre.

Probable lineup: Maignan — Gusto, Jacquet (or Konaté), Upamecano, Truffert (or Diouf) — Cherki, Da Cunha, Rabiot — Olise, Doué, Barcola.