DIDIER DESCHAMPS HAS joked Frank Lampard should consider playing Olivier Giroud more often for Chelsea in exchange for the France boss leaving N’Golo Kante out of his last squad.
Kante was recalled by Les Blues on Thursday for their upcoming qualifiers against Iceland and Turkey, having been overlooked for selection in September to recover from niggling hamstring and ankle injuries.
Deschamps revealed Lampard has previously spoken to him about not selecting the 28-year-old, who returned to action with 90 minutes against Lille on Wednesday.
However, the World Cup-winning coach wants the favour to be repaid, telling reporters at Thursday’s news conference: “Lampard asked me not to pick Kante at the last break.
“If that’s still the way I’m going to call him later to tell him it would be nice if you play Olivier Giroud a little bit!”
Giroud is Deschamps’ preferred striker but has struggled to get a look in at club level, the 33-year-old playing just 100 minutes of Premier League football this season due to the form of Tammy Abraham.
Deschamps admitted Giroud’s lack of playing time for Chelsea could work against him.
“I do not want to take away from what Olivier has done with us,” said Deschamps. “He has put in some very good performances, not to mention that he is the third-best active French scorer. However, I hope his situation develops.
“Beyond his efficiency with us, it is a matter of rhythm too. He has already gone through spells where he has played less, but now it is not sufficient physically – he cannot be at his best.”
Like Kante, Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe is back in the France squad after missing the wins over Albania and Andorra last month because of a hamstring injury.
Mbappe has featured as a second-half substitute in PSG’s last two matches after missing more than a month and Deschamps will take no risks over his fitness.
“Kylian is back from his first significant injury, so the worst is now behind him,” said Deschamps. “I am not going to take risks with him, despite our two important matches.
“He has a match with PSG this weekend and then we will see his physical condition. Two 90-minute matches in three days is unlikely.”
Murray Kinsella joins Sean Farrell and Gavan Casey from Japan to give his blunt assessment of Ireland’s performance against Russia
Can’t see either team making any impact in the championship this year!!
Actually don’t think so Frank, so little between Kildare and Dublin, that there’s an inevitability Kildare will beat them eventually and there’s that desperation within Kildare team to win a provincial title thar isn’t there in Dublin. That’s a lot favouring the Lilywhites in a tight game
Most likely not but championship about more than the big prize, it’s about the smaller but no less relevant prizes for the likes of Longford and Wicklow along the way.
Big difference to be playing against Kildare, Tyrone and Galway than Kilkenny, London and Waterford and while that will balance out with both being in Division 3, that’s a year down the line. Also, the players were completely behind the manager, that is what kept him his job and since all that unpleasantness, they have been locked away, Joe Sheridan is back, Kevin Reilly is a serious operator as is Seamus Kenny, and while Meath’s midfield is weak, they are still a talented bunch with something serious to prove. Time will tell.
That division has Limerick, Fermanagh & Clare in it aswell. Limerick were all ireland quarter finalists last year & have twice come very close to winning the Munster championship recently so I wouldnt discount the level of opposition Wicklow were up against just like that. As for the players being fully behind the manager, I wouldnt be so sure of that either, I’m sure that was what was said to the media but the reality was most likely very different.
Oi! Don’t be putting Waterford in with Kk & London. We are on the way-up.
I think this is going to be closer than meath by four, Wicklow are a decent championship team, meath have injuries to key players, have just been relegated to Division 3 & are not fully behind the manager. He barely kept his job recently due. I would say either team could win it by 1-2 points
They’ll both be sick when Carlow beat the winner in the next round :)
Very different Limerick now to the one that rattled Kerry and you can’t compare Clare and Fermanagh with Clare and Tyrone. Not discounting Wicklow, just big jump in opposition. Longford managed it, granted, and maybe Wicklow can too. Just can see Meath having a little too much class up front and can see them netting at least twice. But time will tell and it’s an exciting game. As for Carlow, Brian, I admire your optimism!
Andrew McLoughlin? Is he Anthony and Michael’s lesser known, non exist any brother?
Meath won’t win a thing as long as there’s anybody who was connected with the 2010 Leinster final team still involved.
I hope they have a nice game but we all know the Dubs will rule again in Leinster.