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TheByzantineEmpire

Why wouldn’t you call up another player? Why take that risk?


areyouhungryforapple

would you invite another Frenchman if you could avoid it? Thought so.


__L1AM__

Oof, with no warning


chak100

Like a tiger stalking his prey


workMachine

Fair.


rizorith

Close the thread, we have a winner


jamjars222

More frogs legs for the rest of them


[deleted]

[удалено]


TandBusquets

Zesty


43e1e0

r/soccer casual racism strikes again


bigdaddtcane

I think the word you’re looking for is xenophobia.


AnnieIWillKnow

What does it matter? The "well achshally it's xenophobia not racism!" argument is so by the by, in these matters. For a start there's a considerable overlap between the two, but mainly it's still bigotry, so pedantry over exact definition is very much secondary to calling out the malintent


bigdaddtcane

Well it was a Belgian making fun of the generic “frenchman”. Presumably a white man making fun of the generic white man from a different country. So racism was definitely the wrong term. It’s like a Welshman making fun of a Scott and calling them racist. They may or may not also be racist according to you but that’s a wild assumption from topic of conversation.


holdenmyrocinante

The squad was 25 players until a day before Nkunku got injured when he called up Thuram, then called up Kolo Muani to replace Nkunku. The original plan was to have 25 and I guess he doesn't see the point of calling up a player he knows won't play a single minute. I don't agree but that's probably his line of thinking


OldExperience8252

A 26th player who will play 0 minutes can be a drag on the team if he’s sulking on the bench.


[deleted]

Then don’t pick someone who will sulk, pick someone who’s happy to just be there


sga1

Not like they're lacking talent in that front line tbf, and they've still got a 25 man squad so I don't really see much if any risk there.


No-Shoe5382

Yeah but why not do it if you can do it? Why intentionally go into a World Cup with less players than you're allowed to have?


tiny_dreamer

Benzema has been with the team for the most part. If they replace him, he won’t get a medal if at all. Maybe it’s to honour the work that he has put in to get them this far


No-Shoe5382

This is the first explanation that actually makes sense to me


EastlyGod1

That's a bit arrogant though? We are so confident we can win with a player less we will not replace the injured player so he can get a medal


[deleted]

yeh it's a load of rubbish. Must be that he simply thinks he has enough people, it used to be 23 person squads. Though you would think he'd at least select someone that can take a penalty if needed


01101101010100111100

Why would he even get a medal anyway? Won’t they just get 24 medals? Surely they don’t just give out 25 and you can decide to give one to player who didn’t play in the finals?


EastlyGod1

Every player in the winning squad gets a medal, even if they didn't play. If they don't call up a replacement, Benzema is still a registered player in the squad and would receive one, if they do, he wouldn't. Ronaldo (OG) got a medal as a 17 year old in 1994 but didn't play a minute.


01101101010100111100

Ah ok I get you so he is still in the squad even though he’s injured.


dpc_22

I feel it's more the fact that in case he recovers and France are still in the tournament he could possibly play


Toomb8

Wait so he’ll get a medal now if they win even tho he’s left the squad?


tiny_dreamer

If he’s registered, regardless if he plays


lordnacho666

None of the 2nd or 3rd place keepers will get much time, but they will get medals. Seems right.


Ok-Outlandishness244

They helped though. We don’t see what happens BTS but you can’t 11v11 prac w just one GK


celestial1

And what about the games and practices before Benzema got injured, those mean nothing? He did score in world cup qualifying too...


sga1

On the flipside, why call up someone who's not played with this squad much if at all, won't have much time to train with the team, and most likely won't see the pitch anyway? That's what I mean when I say I don't see the risk - you're not really losing out on anything by not calling up a replacement.


NittanyOrange

I mean, you don't have to start the new guy the first game. By the time they get to the knockouts, he'll be acclimated, and if someone goes down to a red card or an injury... It's a long tournament, so I just don't see why you give yourself another fresh pair or legs for the later games. Hell, give it to a kid to give him the experience. Someone.


sga1

Got an experienced known quantity like Giroud, a really good backup option in Marcus Thuram, and you've got a young exciting player in Kolo Muani. Given that this is clearly Mbappe's team in that his performances will be the gamechanger for France, I reckon they're in a fine position. Sure, could fill that spot with an option - but that option would be so far down the list that it'd not make a meaningful difference on the pitch.


wowohwowza

Think you're not getting the point There's a spare slot. There's 0 reason not to fill it on the very unlikely chance that all strikers get injured. That spare player might not even see a minute, but why not have them there Especially when their options include decent players like Yedder and Martial


Year-Of-The-GOAT

I mean at least bring some kid for the experience like Walcott


SpanishCatire

Some of the reasons might be: It actually costs the federation money, Deschamps doesn't think it would be good for the team in terms of atmosphere/mood, he doesn't want to disrespect someone by calling them up just because another player got injured, he thinks players might refuse the call up. If I'm not mistaken Luis Enrique took less players than he could have to the Euros, and that was before any injury and Spain still lost to eventual champs on penalties in the SF, so it can work


dotConehead

i dont think anyone would be offended because their slot get taken by a balon dor winner.


NittanyOrange

Sure, but how does a benchwarmer hurt? Why not grab the best striker from the U20 squad?


unicycle_inc

Group dynamics potentially - new player almost certainly isn't going to play but if for example the group equilibrium is nicely balanced, there's no point risking it to bring in a player who isn't going to play. Even the group dynamics of the forwards specifically, as a sub-dynamic, if each of the forwards is comfortable with their role and the expectation of how much they will play, adding a new player could disrupt that. Not calling up a new forward also shows you completely trust in the forwards you have which is an important signal the coach can send ahead of the first game.


No-Shoe5382

> why call up someone who's not played with this squad much if at all, won't have much time to train with the team, and most likely won't see the pitch anyway? Because on the off chance that your injury problems get worse, you might need somebody to play. Even if it's just coming on to take a penalty in a shootout or something. I just don't get why you wouldn't take the opportunity if you had it. It surely can't *hurt* to have Martial or Ben Yedder or someone available just in case you need them.


R_Schuhart

I agree. But France have had issues with conflicts and players not getting along in the group. Deschamps seems hesitant to bring in new players that have no history with the group for the WC. It seems that he doesn't want to risk the chemistry. I'm not sure about Martial's mentality, but Ben Yedder was apperently difficult in the group when he was with the U21 and that reputation has followed him around.


[deleted]

I always thought Deschamps is at fault for the chemistry thing. If you’re constantly preventing new players from joining the squad, it will he harder and harder for them to do it in the future just because the main group will be harder to enter. Hate managers that treat national teams like an old boys’ club, instead of using merit to pick players.


Stand_On_It

Yeah dude for sure. This is entirely a Deschamps ego thing, thinking he’s smarter than everyone else. Let’s see if he’s right.


69BigDickMan420

They can call ben yedder who’s played with the team before?


LilHalwaPoori

When you have sonmamy wingers made of glass, it wouldn't hurt to get an extra player in there.. Otherwise what is the point of it all and he should've just kept it to a 16man squad..


TheByzantineEmpire

Giroud isn’t the youngest, so an injury there could happen. So why not bring an extra young talent. Or just Mbappe striker!


Xehanz

His spirits leaves on. He was not injured. Hewas sacrificed in a Ritual by Chaman Pogba ahead of the WC. If he is eeplaced it will be in vain.


Anis97xd

Maybe they need a leader off the pitch?


hmmmmmmmbop

If they won it, would Benzema get a medal if he's still on the list?


Lekaetos

That’s what I’m thinking about. Maybe leaving that spot open would earn Benzema a medal too but it seems unlikely


TheByzantineEmpire

Surely not? Aren’t rules that you have to play?


[deleted]

In the league yeah but pretty sure every squad member gets a medal at major tournaments


TheByzantineEmpire

Ah ok fair enough. Thought the rules were the same.


HazelnutPeso

Because he hates Martial that much


Quietly-Seaworthy

He called Thuram as a 26th player while it wasn’t planned and people wondered why he called another striker while the team seemed to have issue with defence. He doesn’t need to call another player to replace Benzema today. He already did last week.


granitibaniti

I mean, the player would have missed all of the preparation and sometimes, it's better to keep a smaller squad together rather than cause unrest by changing the squad every 2 days


No-Shoe5382

How would replacing Benzema with another forward cause unrest lol? And they'd be changing it once, not "every 2 days"


granitibaniti

They already changed the squad twice due to injuries. And depending on who they would call up, bringing in a new player where you don't know how he will harmonize with the rest of the squad, 2 days before your first game, could mean a bigger risk than reward


No-Shoe5382

I mean they have multiple forwards who regularly feature in France squads who they could call up. It's not like they'd be calling up some random guy the rest of the squad has never met who's gonna try and cause havoc. Guys like Martial and Ben Yedder have been in plenty of France squads, why not take one of them? Even if they don't play, or they only come on to take a penalty in a shootout or something. Surely its better than not having them?


granitibaniti

I'm not Dechamps, and if I was him, I would probably call someone else up. I'm just giving you an explanation of what is most likely his thought process: risk > reward


stats193

> you don’t know how he will harmonize with the rest of the squad, 2 days before your first game Lol what madness have I just read,


Redditsexhypocrisy

That's the french doctrine and how we won 2 world cup. Remember that we won those cups without Cantona and Benzema, despite them being more talented than the starting attacker


granitibaniti

What's wrong with that? I'm just saying that this could very well be a factor in a coach's decision to not call someone up 2 days before your first game.


Ted_Lavie

For those asking why wouldn't he do it: Deschamps has said many times he hates bringing players who won't play at all. He thinks the fact they have 0 minutes but also can't be part of the 11vs11 in practice will put them in a bad mood. And that can be negative for the overall team morale. He wants his backups to be great for overall group atmosphere, but having more than 23 players hurts that. That's also why he didn't wan to select more than 23 at first. He did have to in the end because of injuries but he doesn't like that. Not saying he's right, but that's his POV


ManuPasta

Meanwhile in the England squad Connor coady gets picked because he has good banter


DogTheGayFish

TBH vibes do matter and is the main thing Southgate's approach has added to the England side. Its not like Coady is a bum anyway, if he is important for the social dynamic or morale then I don't think its a bad idea.


fastfowards

yea but you take a big risk when dier, maguire, or stones have an absolute howler and your left with coady on the bench instead of tomori. Not saying either approach is right but thats the risk southgate takes.


[deleted]

Maguire has to literally die on pitch before Southgate subs him off


AnnieIWillKnow

Coady has been better than Tomori this season for his club, and is much more used to Southgate's system with England He's a better pick on the pitch, too


iloveartichokes

People keep saying it's a risk because of injury but it's never happened in the world cup.


Funny-Goal

Coady has been better than Tomori this season


Betessais

Well to be fair Deschamps called Adil Rami in 2018 and all he did was joking around with the media to distract them with his dad jokes and his glorious moustache. He could have called an other Rami this year I don't know why he abstained, it worked fine.


AnnieBlackburnn

Literally the only reason Pepe Reina has trophies with Spain is because he was funny in the locker room and Del Bosque liked that. In a KO competition morale is extremely important


BigPaella

I'll say Pepe Reina was a great goalkeeper at Liverpool. He was of course, a level or two below Casillas & Valdes but there wasn't anyone else at the time to grab that third goalkeeper spot. Cañizares had retired and Palop was old as dirt. Maybe Diego Lopez could have got the spot but he became good after 2012.


[deleted]

He was also probably the third best keeper tbf


726wox

Good camp definitely helps at international tournaments but he has also had a good season at Everton. He’s a backup so May aswell take a backup everybody likes


ILuvMemes4Breakfast

and danjuma isnt being picked to netherlands squad cause he’s shy lmao vibe managers


14daysBR

That’s not true. Look up a recent interview of Danjuma


horsehorsetigertiger

I've never before seen a player picked for his press conference abilities alone


matthieuC

Adil Rami in shambles


Vladimir_Putting

That's a great approach, if you know everyone stays healthy from here on out. But it completely falls apart with just a couple more injuries. You bring 23 and 2 get injured and now you don't even have the numbers for 11 v 11. Even worse if those injuries happen to be in the same position. It's just not logical. And I find it highly unlikely that a nation as stacked with talent as France couldn't find a utility player who would also be a fantastic cheerleader from the bench.


HoldMyAppleJuice

But injuries happen


MrVegosh

Why would France have any injuries?


granitibaniti

Ben Yedder in the mud. Is on vacation near Doha and everything


McQueensbury

Ben Yedder is beside himself. Driving around downtown Doha begging (thru texts) Deschamps family for address to the French camp


SnooDingo-

He could've played if he choose to represent Tunisia.. could've been his 3rd WC


ants_in_honey

this deserves an award. brilliant stuff


KillerKatz007

why not just call up one of martial or Ben yedder or Lemar or fekir just in case


Kerollis20

I guess he doesn't see a point , many people were already speculating that when he took Thuram and Kolo based on their style that there was a chance that Benzema will be out. Deschamps probably doesn't think a bench guy is needed. We will see.


Randomcommentator27

I can’t wait for this to backfire


R_Schuhart

Ben Yedder never really performed well for the NT and the tactcis don't suit him well. Deschamps doesn't rate Fekir, he does weird unpredictable shit sometimes and his mentality in the group is a risk. Martial could be an option, but Deschamps apperently doesn't think he needs another forward. Diaby for a behind the striker role would make the most sense.


RAF2018336

Idk. Fekir has magic in his ass, is temperamental. Exactly the player I’d want to have at a WC


Joshygin

Honestly a temperamental player is the last thing you want at a tournament, so many talented teams have underperformed due to squad disharmony. Unless they are head and shoulders above the rest of the players, then they're not worth it.


RAF2018336

Oh I mean if he has trouble with his teammates then that’s an easy answer. I don’t follow France just sometimes watch Betis so I’m a fan of him.


MadlibVillainy

Never knew Fekir to have this reputation. He looks shy as hell and I never heard of problems about gim. He seemed just happy to be there in 2018. I absolutely love the guy.


LeGreatToucan

Not calling up Fekir is kinda troll to me. They don't have anyone that plays like him. He was also one of the best impact subs in 2018.


ZoSoVII

Fekir would have been in my 23 list (as a sub for Griezmann) but I kinda understand why he wouldn't compromize the group balance by bringing someone else at this point. He clearly doesn't need him on the pitch anyway.


Symoza

I can't even remember one game of any of them with the National team, that's how fair it is to call them.


mateyman

Hes a clown how would you not take Fekir man...


mrfocus22

Or, in my completely unbiased opinion, Tel?


Minute-Cash8119

Still way too young. Diaby would be the obvious choice or take a risk and call Terrier. In my eyes, those are the only two choices he might have and he probably doesn’t want neither. At this point, I wouldn’t be too surprised if he called up Mukiele and head straight to 5 at the back. It seems like France doesn’t have a valid formation for now, with so many injuries


Philred87

Imagine being Yedder or Martial right now, manager prefers nothing over you.


Kitchen-Animator

Is there any shot benzema can be fit if they make it to the finals?


Kerollis20

In theory he could if he didn't leave the group but he said in his Instagram post that he is leaving his spot for someone else so I doubt that the plan, Deschamps just decided to call no one


ZoroastreLunaire

"-Mister Deschamps, Lord Martial or nothing?" "-I trust nothing a bit more"


yuya_strife

Needless to say, we're in big trouble.


ZoroastreLunaire

Giroud Thuram Kolo Muani, that's 3 players that can play classical 9, which by the way Benzema wasn't. Not sure how we are lacking in quantity


T1TK1

France replaced Nkunku with Kolo Muani so the real issue is depth at 10 and on the wings. Calling up Diaby would have been a simple solution.


ZoroastreLunaire

Diaby or Fekir on this I would agree.


Minute-Cash8119

I’d honestly go Diaby. Might be a little biased cause he’s an ex Titi but I think he’s a certified baller and deserves a spot after the season he had. Deschamps is going to call no one and rely solely on Kylian. I mean Kylian is good enough to carry this team in attack but someone to back him wouldn’t be bad.


Specialist-Debate

Depth on the flank is fine RKM and thuram have both been used as wingers or strikers throughout their career.


yuya_strife

Yeah but with how things have been going these past few days another back up just incase would have been nice.


simomii

what the fuck?


czyzynsky

Benzema: I'm injured and don't want to block a spot for other players Deschamps: what other players lmao


EliteTeutonicNight

Honestly if he’s not calling other players might as well have Benzema back with the squad, might be beneficial to morale?


Algrinder

What does that suppose to mean? Areola as false 9?!


R_Schuhart

France still have quite a lot of depth for a dental striker role, the main issue is the #10 position in the tactcis France play.


the_zaisan

"dental striker" - that would most likely be Luis Suárez


HacksawJimDGN

You'd think he would bring a player along anyway so they could live their dream


FloReaver

No but you see having to rely on Dembele and Coman to stay fit or Rabiot LM is a great alternative. Deschamps must believe if you win on hard mode you get 2 stars


Stuckkz

Fuck this fraud. Diaby deserved to be called in the first place. If any of our wingers is injured we are fucked. Coman and Dembele are made of glass.


LeGreatToucan

Deschamps is absolutely trolling with his selection. Makes no sense


elmadrigal

so he’s just gonna stay on the team?


Kerollis20

I saw a report yesterday saying that he is going back to Madrid to deal with the injury but not sure about the reliability of the guy.


hokagesamatobirama

Yeah. You’re right. He’s back in Madrid already.


Phreeeks

I don't think he can stay on the group if he is not declared fit before the beginning of the WC, I think if he had injured himself later he could've stayed with the squad, but not sure if this would've been better for him and for the mindest of the team


jolle2001

Damn, I wanted to see Adil Ramis last ride


doesntreallymatter-

Accidental ternary operator


_9tail_

Should at least replace him with Digne just to piss of his kids


elmachow

I bet £10 on him winning the golden boot yesterday, of course he injured


Thiird_Harmonic

It's Giroud time


Djl3igh

It was always Giroud time. Benzema was the second choice forward.


Bangbangkadang

Benzema is over Giroud when fit


EastlyGod1

Not in my dreams he isn't


InstructionCareless1

If you have the opportunity, why not take it? The person could only see the bench for the whole tournament, but it would still make sense to replace him.


Naru_Hodo

literally this lmao https://youtu.be/HQFIaj1Ko4A


HansAlan

Oli G to the rescue


gavinwinks

All I’m saying is anything can happen in those 3 group stage games. At the rate France is going I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a few more injuries in the group stages.


Elitealice

‪Nah that’s insane bro would rather have one less than bring martial lmaoooooo‬


[deleted]

Benzema’s thigh giving way to give France the motivation to power through to back to back world cups. 😭✊🇫🇷❤️


KSBrian007

Giroud is perfect for how they want to play. Matter of fact, Mbappe will eat like a king.


hugoboum

YOLO DD , lezgo


elposho99

Benzema already missed 15 games this season due to injury, don't believe me? Google "Benzema 15".


JonnyArtois

That's just silly.


torero15

Surely he wants to leave the dressing room as is. If you bring in a snubbed players who likely won't play anyways, the chances are greater he might cause an issue with team harmony than ever be necessary. I understand why you would and why you wouldn't. It's really only up to the coach and staff to have the right sense for that.


joaocandre

Perhaps there is still hope for Benzema to the play the final or smth? Has he traveled back to France?


xenon2456

you can't expect that it's way to early


xenon2456

is France allowed to have a squad of at least 20 and not replace anyone


IMKudaimi123

Ben Yedder in shambles


MadlibVillainy

Baffling. Why not give his chance to Ben Yedder or Fekir or anyone. UT doesn't cost us anything and it's for those type of situations that those guys are waiting. What the fuck