Three Chelsea players called up by France, including N’Golo Kante

Three Chelsea players have been called by the defending World Cup champions France for their cakewalk Euro 2020 qualifiers against Albania and Moldova.

While France are not technically assured of a spot in next summer’s tournament, locked in a battle with Turkey and Iceland for the two qualifying spots from Group H, their two opponents during this international break have a combined 2 wins from 16 games, with 3 total goals scored and a goal difference of -36. (That’s negative-36. Thirty. Six.)

Basically, France would have to try really hard not to win both games easily and thus qualify for Euro 2020.

But France head coach Didier Deschamps is understandably not taking things for granted, calling up as strong a team as he possibly can. And that unfortunately includes N’Golo Kante as well, who has just recovered from the latest of his concerningly long series of various minor injuries to make the bench against Ajax on Tuesday. While he’s likely to start against Crystal Palace on Saturday (especially with Jorginho suspended), it’s still mildly aggravating that he’s once again having to deal with international duty.

Deschamps’ attitude isn’t all that helpful either, though we shouldn’t expect otherwise given his prior nonchalance regarding Kante’s health and fitness. Lampard asked for at least better communication after the confusion during the last international break, but that seems to have fallen of deaf ears as well.

“I haven’t spoken to [Lampard]. N’Golo has taken time to recover, he was back in training last week, in their squad for the Champions League. He is back to full fitness. If a player is available for his club, it is normal that they be part of this squad.”

-Didier Deschamps; source: @GFFN

Last time Deschamps played down a Kante injury, the midfielder ended up missing almost an entire month. In fact, he’s played in only three games for Chelsea in the last three months or so, since the middle of August. Let’s just say Deschamps’ walking on thin [FUN]ING ice here.

In any case, Olivier Giroud and Kurt Zouma were also called up. No issues there.

GOALKEEPERS: Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Alphonse Areola (Real Madrid), Mike Maignan (Lille)

DEFENDERS: Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich), Raphaël Varane (Real Madrid), Clément Lenglet (Barcelona), Léo Dubois (Lyon), Presnel Kimpembe (PSG), Kurt Zouma (Chelsea), Benjamin Mendy (Manchester City), Lucas Digne (Everton)

MIDFIELDERS: Corentin Tolisso (Bayern Munich), Blaise Matuidi (Juventus), Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham Hotspur), Tanguy Ndombele (Tottenham Hotspur), N’Golo Kanté (Chelsea)

FORWARDS: Olivier Giroud (Chelsea), Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona), Kylian Mbappé (PSG), Thomas Lemar (Atletico Madrid), Nabil Fékir (Real Betis), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich)