France face Iceland at the Parc des Princes amid injuries to two Paris Saint-Germain stars that will keep them out of this game and likely the next round of World Cup qualifying fixtures.
Les Bleus, who are sure of at least a play-off spot after they reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Nations League, made a strong start to their Group D campaign, beating Ukraine 2-0.
Michael Olise and Kylian Mbappe were on target for Didier Deschamps’ men, but the victory was marred as PSG pair Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue suffered injuries.
Ballon d’Or favourite Dembele faces six weeks out with a hamstring injury, while Doue is set to miss around four weeks because of a calf strain.
Those injuries prompted an angry response from PSG, who released a statement that read: “Paris Saint-Germain has sent a letter to the French Football Federation urgently calling for a new, more transparent and collaborative medical coordination protocol between clubs and the national team to make players’ health and medical support a top priority.”
PSG added the club had sent recommendations to the national team concerning workload, but that their advice was not heeded.
The statement continued: “The club deplores the fact that these medical recommendations were not taken into account by the French national team’s medical staff, as well as the total lack of consultation with its medical teams. The recent events, serious and preventable, must give rise to swift and immediate corrective measures.”
Deschamps insisted that France have “always done things seriously and professionally”. However, in Monday’s press conference, he did little to defuse the row.
“What happened, happened. I’m mostly disappointed for Ousmane and Désiré because we’re losing two players for tomorrow’s match,” Deschamps said.
“PSG is not our opponent, even though we have different interests. The medical protocol is not my responsibility.”
His responsibility now is finding a way to beat Iceland without two players who were instrumental to PSG’s Champions League triumph. Iceland began their quest to qualify for the World Cup for the first time with a 5-0 win over Azerbaijan.
But Iceland have never beaten France in their history and, even with Dembele and Doue out, the hosts’ quality will be expected to be too much for their Nordic opponents in south-west Paris.
Team news for France v Iceland
Dembele did not start against Ukraine, so the only enforced change Deschamps will need to make will be to replace Doue on the right wing.
Deschamps could move Mbappe to that flank and start Hugo Ekitike, while Monaco’s Maghnes Akilouche could come in for Doue after making his debut as a substitute against Ukraine.
Iceland are likely to be unchanged from their rout of Azerbaijan.
Predicted line-ups for France v Iceland
France: Maignan; Kounde, Konate, Upamecano, Digne; Tchouameni, Kone; Mbappe, Olise, Barcola; Ekitike
Iceland: Olafsson; Palsson, Ingason, Gretarsson; Thorsteinsson, Thordarson, Johannesson, Ellertsson; Haraldsson, Gudjohnsen, Gudmundsson
How to watch France v Iceland: TV and online stream
In the UK, France v Iceland is available on Amazon Prime Video pay per view. It kicks off at 7:45pm on Tuesday.
