Didier Deschamps has named the 26 men French squad for the Euro 2021 this week and one notable absentee is the in-form AC Milan left-back Theo Hernández.
To guarantee the smooth running and continuity of rescheduled UEFA Euro 2020 in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. UEFA have allowed the teams to choose a 26-player squad instead of the usual 23. However, teams can name only 23 men in the team sheets on the match days.
The 52-year-old manager has named two left-backs in the squad. Everton left-back Lucas Digne and the elder brother of Theo, Lucas Hernández. But, there isn’t any place for Rossoneri’ one of the best players of the season.
The surprising name in the squad is Karim Benzema. He is called up to the national team after five years. It was believed that the 33-year-old forward won’t play for the French national team as long as Deschamps is going to be the manager for some personal issues. But, looking at the recent form of Benzema the French boss decides to take the forward in the squad.
Why was Theo Hernández excluded by Deschamps from the French squad?
When we analyze the reason behind the exclusion of Theo Hernández, we have to know what does Deschamps want from his left-back? The best attribute of the Rossoneri left-back is to go forward and contribute in the attack, he is defensively not sound yet.
The Blues have Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba, Ousmane Dembele and now Benzema as well. So, in order to let them express Deschamps wants his defensive players to know how to defend. So, it is important to have proper defensive-minded players in the squad.
Didier Deschamps is also a defensive and pragmatic coach who likes to break in speed by utilizing Mbappe. He won the World Cup 2018 with this mindset as well. He used six defensive-minded outfield players and played Blaise Matuidi in the left-wing.
So, it is always going to be tough for Theo Hernández to break into this French squad where there are loads of attacking talents and his attributes going forward isn’t required for the team.
France squad for Euro 2020: Hugo Lloris, Mike Maignan, Steve Mandanda; Lucas Digne, Leo Dubois, Lucas Hernandez, Presnel Kimpembe, Jules Kounde, Clement Lenglet, Benjamin Pavard, Raphael Varane, Kurt Zouma; N’Golo Kante, Thomas Lemar, Paul Pogba, Adrien Rabiot, Moussa Sissoko, Corentin Tolisso; Wissam Ben Yedder, Karim Benzema, Kingsley Coman, Ousmane Dembele, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe, Marcus Thuram.
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