Didier Deschamps and the ghosts

It will be official this Tuesday evening. The information concerning the return of Karim Benzema to the French team, corroborated by various French and Spanish media, is causing noise. As exciting as it is unexpected, such a return makes all fans of the football and the Blues salivate. From impossible to unthinkable, Didier Deschamps seems to have made the choice, for Euro 2020, which will take place this summer across a multitude of European countries, to summon, five years after his last, the Real Madrid striker.

The national coach is thought to be stubborn, some even thinking that his pragmatism and his ego pushed him to ignore the performances of the players with whom he may have clashed. Finally, the story says something quite different. The return of KB9 will only be the last of a fine list of ghosts in the France team. But some may have already forgotten it.

The Rabiot case

In May 2018, Adrien Rabiot refused to be part of the list of reservists for the World Cup that the Blues will win. We say to ourselves that the adventure of the Parisian with the Blues, as long as Deschamps will be there in any case, is over. But nay. The national coach takes everyone by surprise and calls the Juventus Turin player in September 2020.

” They are going very well (the reunion, editor’s note). I am very happy to be at the castle with the team. With Didier Deschamps, things are going very well. We had the opportunity to discuss and exchange a little on what happened in 2018, but also on this gathering, Juventus and what I am experiencing. It is very good », Explained the principal interested in Parisian.

Lacazette’s attitude

In 2015, the international break hurt a number of players a lot. Among the latter, Alexandre Lacazette. Flamboyant with OL, he has never really been a first choice for the national coach. The attitude of some (including him?) Will never be passed with the staff of the Blues and it fell into oblivion. For two years.

Indeed, he was in the reserve group for Euro 2016 and was no longer called up until June 2017. We thought that the page was turned, he would even score a double against Germany in November 2017. He has not been called since. André-Pierre Gignac has had a lot of ups and downs with Didier Deschamps.

Gignac, from Mexico to the Euro final

Indeed, the Marseillais did not get along frankly well with the Bayonnais in the Marseille club. However, after three years of absence, he was selected by Deschamps after a good start to the season in 2013. He will miss rallies, before being recalled a year later. While signing in Mexico, it was believed he was putting his international career on hold. Never mind again. He will be recalled in 2015 and then for Euro 2016 where he hits the post in the final against Portugal.

Another Marseillais was in this case: Dimitri Payet. If the Reunionese was called up at the start of Deschamps’ reign, he will not be until October 2013, before experiencing a new slump and missing the 2014 World Cup. He returns following the competition, the 2 October, gradually won and went to England in the summer of 2015, just after his first goal in Blue against Belgium. He will then miss the following gatherings, before being called in March 2016, just before the Euro. He will participate in this competition. Expected for the 2018 World Cup, he was injured in the final of the Europa League and will no longer come back in the blue jersey.

Hatem Ben Arfa has come a long way

Last but not least: Hatem Ben Arfa. When Deschamps and the left-handed genius were at OM together, it wasn’t true love. Summoned by Laurent Blanc during Euro 2012, an altercation arose between the former PSG and Cévenol. He is summoned by the disciplinary commission of the French Football Federation which sends him a call to order.

We will wait three years before reviewing HBA. Since Deschamps reminded him in November 2015 when he was playing at OGC Nice. Despite popular pressure, Ben Arfa is only one of the eight reservists for Euro 2016. He will not replace anyone and will not take part in the competition. Didier Deschamps is therefore not that stubborn …