The Alternates: France National Team

The current France outcasts would field a very competitive team, especially in attack in FIFA 17.

The third in our series this week focuses on the Euro 2016 runner-ups from France.  If you missed the squads of Germany and Spain Alternates, please click on those links and stay strapped in for the shock and awe that comes from seeing the players that have been recently passed over for national team duty by French manager Didier Deschamps.  The talent is immense and likely France’s fourth-string XI would also be a challenge for England’s first XI.

The inspiration for this series comes from Germany’s ho-hum 1-0 win in a friendly that is being celebrated in England during the March 2017 international break and raises flags about England’s ability to compete in the World Cup next summer.

At playingfor90.com, the challenge is to name a squad of players currently outside their national team and see if there is enough quality among the Alternates to compete with a full-strength England side.  Looking at the countries with the strongest leagues in Europe, France is the next squad under review.

Monday – Germany

Tuesday – Spain

Wednesday – France

Thursday – Italy

Friday – England (… is there hope on the horizon)

Current Squad (March 2017 Qualifiers)

France

Manager: Didier Deschamps

Keepers: Hugo Lloris, Benoit Costil, Alphonse Areola

Defenders: Laurent Koscielny, Samuel Umtiti, Adil Rami, Presnel Kimpembe, Layvin Kurzawa, Bacary Sagna, Benjamin Mendy, Djibril Sidibe, Christophe Jallet

Midfielders: N’Golo Kante, Paul Pogba, Blaise Matuidi, Adrien Rabiot, Thomas Lemar, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Corentin Tolisso

Forwards: Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud, Dmitri Payet, Ousmane Dembele, Kevin Gameiro, Florian Thauvin, Kylian Mbappe

Injured: Raphael Varane

France – Alternate Squad: 3-5-2

GK: Steve Mandanda (Crystal Palace)

CB: Aymeric Laporte (Athletic)

CB: Kurt Zouma (Chelsea)

CB: Eliaquim Mangala (Valencia)

LW: Anthony Martial (Manchester United)

CM: Yohan Cabaye (Crystal Palace)

DM: Geoffrey Kondogbia (Inter Milan)

CM: Morgan Schniederlin (Everton)

RW: Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich)

F: Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon)

F: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)

GK: Stephane Ruffier (Saint-Etienne)

Sub D: Lucas Digne (Barcelona)

Sub D: Mamadou Sakho (Crystal Palace)

Sub M: Moussa Sissoko (Spurs)

Sub M: Morgan Sanson (Marseille)

Sub W:  Remy Cabella (Marseille)

Sub F: Andre-Pierre Gignac (Tigres)

Analysis:

If this was FIFA 17, the forwards and wingers would create havoc for opposing defenses as the speed of Martial, Coman and Lacazette would be lethal.  Martial and Benzema are likely not on the main French team due to lack of playing time and attempted blackmail respectively but their loss is the Alternates’ gain.

A trendy back three could easily become a back four with the introduction of Barca’s Digne off the bench and teams would struggle to control the midfield with Schneiderlin, Cabaye and Kondogbia playing.

How would this team stack up against England’s first XI?  There is likely too much Crystal Palace in this squad to guarantee three points but as an England fan, it would be hard to watch as Lacazette and Benzema would give the central defenders all they could handle and then some.

Next: Mbappe the second coming of Henry?

The speed of the French Alternate center backs would also stifle important parts of Kane’s and Vardy’s ability to play up front.  This team would be a match-up nightmare for Gareth Southgate and of course, most other sides on the planet.