{"id":394513,"date":"2025-09-03T12:17:13","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T12:17:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/394513\/"},"modified":"2025-09-03T12:17:13","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T12:17:13","slug":"france-lineup-vs-ukraine-predicted-xi-for-fridays-world-cup-qualifier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/394513\/","title":{"rendered":"France lineup vs Ukraine: Predicted XI for Friday’s World Cup qualifier"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sports Mole looks at how France could line up for their opening 2026 World Cup qualifier against Ukraine in Wroclaw on Friday.<\/p>\n

France<\/strong><\/a> will be without important defender William Saliba<\/strong><\/a> for their opening 2026 World Cup<\/strong><\/a> qualifier against Ukraine<\/strong><\/a> on Friday night.<\/p>\n

Saliba was forced off inside four minutes of Arsenal\u2019s 1-0 defeat at Liverpool last weekend, and has since pulled out of the squad, meaning Didier Deschamps<\/strong><\/a> is set to go with a centre-back pairing of Dayot Upamecano<\/strong><\/a> and Ibrahima Konate<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Arsenal defender is not the only Premier League star who has had to withdraw with injury though, because Manchester City\u2019s Rayan Cherki<\/strong><\/a> is also out injured, but that has handed an opportunity to Liverpool new boy Hugo Ekitike<\/strong><\/a> to potentially win his first cap.<\/p>\n

France are also slightly weakened in midfield due to Eduardo Camavinga<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s absence, but after sorting out his Marseille dispute by moving to AC Milan, Adrien Rabiot<\/strong><\/a> has been selected for this squad, and should start.<\/p>\n

Theo Hernandez<\/strong><\/a> is another player who has made a rather controversial transfer this summer, moving to Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia, but that has not impacted on his selection for Les Bleus, as Deschamps has called him up to this squad.<\/p>\n

The same cannot be said for Kingsley Coman, who has also moved to the Saudi Pro League, but has been left out again, with Deschamps preferring the youthful exuberance of Desire Doue, Michael Olise and Bradley Barcola out wide.<\/p>\n

Kylian Mbappe<\/strong><\/a> will spearhead the attack though, and his 50 international goals is more than the combined total of all other 25 squad members, illustrating the youth in the French ranks.<\/p>\n

A number of experienced squad members have been left out from the squad that was selected for the Nations League finals, with Randal Kolo Muani, Matteo Guendouzi and Clement Lenglet all being snubbed, as well as Paris Saint-Germain youngster Warren Zaire-Emery.<\/p>\n

Mike Maignan<\/strong><\/a> is set to start between the sticks for France, but he now has a new challenger, with PSG\u2019s new number one Lucas Chevalier<\/strong><\/a> called up to the squad seeking his first senior cap.<\/p>\n

France possible starting lineup:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Konate, T Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Olise, Dembele, Thuram; Mbappe<\/p>\n

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