thunderclap Announced for the Blues! Cherki Set too start Against Ukraine Amidst injury Crisis
Clairefontaine, France – A wave of injuries has unexpectedly opened the door for Rayan cherki to earn a starting spot for France’s crucial match against Ukraine on Thursday. The Manchester City midfielder, recently returning from a thigh injury that sidelined him for the first two international matches this fall, is poised to take on a key playmaker role.
The French squad is grappling with significant absences in attack, with Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, Kingsley Coman, and Randal Kolo Muani all unavailable. This has reshuffled the attacking lineup, with Michael Olise – typically positioned behind Kylian Mbappé – expected to shift to the right flank, mirroring his role at Bayern Munich.
Further bolstering the midfield, N’Golo kanté, making a triumphant return to the national team after a year’s absence, is anticipated to start alongside Manu Koné, filling the void left by adrien Rabiot and Aurélien Tchouameni.
A tight competition remains at left-back, with national team manager Didier Deschamps weighing options between Théo Hernandez and Lucas Digne. The defense is or else expected to feature Jules Koundé on the right, and a central pairing of William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano.
Kylian Mbappé will captain the side and lead the attack,with Bradley Barcola slated to start on the left wing.
Probable France lineup vs. Ukraine:
Maignan – koundé, Saliba, Upamecano, Digne or T. Hernandez - Kanté, Koné – Olise, Cherki, Barcola – Mbappé (cap.).
This reshuffled lineup presents a significant possibility for Cherki to showcase his talent on the international stage, capitalizing on the challenges presented by the team’s current injury situation. The match against Ukraine is a vital fixture for France as they continue their qualifying campaign.
