World Cup: who to replace Hugo Ekitike in the attack of the France team?

Support that could have been insignificant will ultimately modify Didier Deschamps’ plans. The coach of the France team will announce the list of the Blues who will fly to the 2026 World Cup on May 14. The 57-year-old coach already knows that he will not be able to include the name of Hugo Ekitike. On Tuesday evening, the Liverpool striker ruptured the Achilles tendon in his right ankle during the Reds’ defeat in the quarter-final second leg of the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain (2-0).

His tears and the pain expressed led people to fear the worst and the former Eintracht Frankfurt scorer withdrew from the North American World Cup. While Ekitike offered a rare, versatile and exciting profile, Deschamps will have to find another ninth attacker to complete his list – if indeed he chooses a forward to compensate for the absence of the ex-Parisian.

A priori, eight names are already in a good position to join the United States: Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, Désiré Doué, Bradley Barcola, Rayan Cherki, Maghnes Akliouche and Marcus Thuram. The latter had scored valuable points thanks to his successful American tour at the end of March. Ekitike’s injury further cements his seat for the World Cup. There would then remain a place to fill.

Kolo Muani favori

Main candidate for this ninth role, Randal Kolo Muni (32 caps, 9 goals) is the favorite, despite Tottenham’s catastrophic season and its average performances. The 27-year-old striker on loan from PSG has the confidence of the coach and his experience in Qatar in 2022.

Behind him in the hierarchy, Christopher Nkunku (18 caps, 2 goals) and Jean-Philippe Mateta (3 caps, 2 goals) do not have the same experience. The Milanese (28 years old) was not at the last gathering. Neither does the Crystal Palace striker (28 years old). While he stood out last October and November for his first caps, the 1.92 goalscorer was cut short in his momentum by a knee injury and his aborted transfer to AC Milan, precisely.

With three goals since his return, Mateta has still had a thunderous start to April. Among the players called up recently, Florian Thauvin is the other potential contender. Author of a surprising and notable return to Ligue 1 since last summer, the Lensois is starting from further afield. While he is the only one of the four solutions to hold world champion status, he was not on the initial lists for October and November. The 33-year-old former Marseille player (13 caps, 2 goals) was called in to cover the injuries of Bradley Barcola and Kolo Muani.