France-Colombia: towards a completely overhauled starting lineup with Samba and Kalulu starting

Arriving at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington DC on Thursday evening after their victory against Brazil (1-2), the Blues are 1.5 km from the White House. Or less than ten minutes by vehicle. From 4:20 p.m. Friday (9:20 p.m. French time), they began their training before France-Colombia in a friendly this Sunday (9 p.m.), only reserved for those who did not play the first match. There were thirteen of them. Ousmane Dembélé, Malo Gusto and Hugo Ekitike appeared to line up the laps of the field.

The session was held at Northwest Stadium in Landover, a suburb of Washington, in front of 300 children and adolescents from the French international high school in Rochambeau.

At the end of the face-to-face against the Seleção, Didier Deschamps warned: “I change everyone. It was planned. I want to see as much as possible in the second match, he said at a press conference. There are always lessons to be learned. Today, we have a new international with Maxence (Lacroix) who has had a very good start. »

Lacroix will experience his second selection

The coach has already released Dayot Upamecano, excluded Thursday evening at Gilette Stadium and returned to Bayern Munich. Against the Colombians, he will therefore relaunch in goal Brice Samba, who has not started since March 2024 in a friendly against Germany in Lyon (0-2 defeat). The Rennais will have his fourth selection in A. In front of him, will take place Pierre Kalulu on the right, Lucas Digne on the left and a hinge who has never played together with Maxence Lacroix and Lucas Hernandez. The Crystal Palace defender will already experience his second cap after a strong start against Brazil.

In midfield, N’Golo Kanté, who should inherit the captain’s armband, will be accompanied by Eduardo Camavinga. The Madrilenian is in balance with Warren Zaire-Emery. The Parisian started in Azerbaijan on November 16, 2025 for, at the time, his ninth selection. It is in front that the boss of the Blues has the most choices. Rayan Cherki should occupy the role of playmaker, escorted on the right by Maghnes Akliouche and Désiré Doué on the left. Even if the latter, hit in the back, remained in the room.

The last place, that of central striker, is disputed between Marcus Thuram, the favorite, and Randal Kolo Muani, the returnee in this March list, the last before the disclosure on May 13 of the lucky ones called up for the World Cup. Didier Deschamps and a player will return to the microphones this Saturday (at 7:30 p.m. French time) before training one last time at the stadium, on the eve of their last friendly match of this international sequence.