MX23RW : Thursday, November 7 12:52:47| >> :120:10231:10231:
[monks data]
Attendance: 70,000
France national football team
Euro Champ Qualifying | Group Stage
Nov 14, 2019 at 7.45pm UK
 
Moldova national football team

2-1

Varane (35'), Giroud (79' pen.)
FT(HT: 1-1)
Rata (9')

France boss Didier Deschamps explains Olivier Giroud selection

France boss Didier Deschamps explains Olivier Giroud selection
© Reuters
Les Bleus play Moldova and Albania in their final Euro 2020 qualifiers.

France boss Didier Deschamps insists Olivier Giroud has earned his trust but refused to close the door on Anthony Martial.

Manchester United's Martial has been left out of the squad to face Moldova and Albania this week.

Giroud has played just 211 minutes for Chelsea this season, with Tammy Abraham the first-choice striker at Stamford Bridge.

Manchester United's Anthony Martial has been overlooked by France
Manchester United's Anthony Martial has been overlooked by France (Martin Rickett/PA)

But, ahead of Thursday's Euro 2020 qualifier with Moldova in Paris, Deschamps has full faith in World Cup winner Giroud.

"Maybe that means something but it's mostly what happened on the pitch that means something," he told a press conference. "If he is the one I used the most, do not forget either the ratio of matches and goals.

"There are not many in front of him in terms of goals in the history of the France team. He did the right thing, he answered the trust."

But Martial remains in the manager's long-term plans. The forward has impressed for United since returning from two months out with a thigh injury, scoring three goals in seven games.

"He was part of the French team on a regular basis, but recently he was often injured," said Deschamps.

"He came back not so long ago and it's going well in his role as a central striker with Manchester United. For a long time he's been part of the players likely to be called up."

France are second in Group H, behind Turkey on goal difference.

The reigning world champions will qualify for Euro 2020 from Group H if they beat Moldova, or if Iceland fail to win against Turkey.

Deschamps also expects PSG's Kylian Mbappe to be fit despite the striker missing the 2-1 Ligue 1 win at Brest on Saturday with a muscle problem.

"Mbappe has not arrived yet, but will be there," he added. "There was communication between the two doctors on the fact it was a precaution.

"There was no particular concern compared to our Thursday deadline."

Moldova are bottom of the group, having won one of their eight games.

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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Cyprus Cyprus00000
2 Georgia Georgia00000
3 Norway Norway00000
Q Scotland flag Scotland00000
Q Spain Spain00000

Group B

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Q France France00000
2 Gibraltar flag Gibraltar00000
3 Greece Greece00000
Q Netherlands Netherlands00000
5 Ireland Rep. Ireland00000

Group C

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Q England flag England00000
Q Italy Italy00000
3 Malta flag Malta00000
4 Macedonia N. Macedonia00000
5 Ukraine Ukraine00000

Group D

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3 Latvia Latvia00000
Q Turkey Turkey00000
5 Wales flag Wales00000

Group E

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Q Czech Republic Czech Republic00000
3 Faroe Islands Faroe Islands00000
4 Republic of Moldova Moldova00000
5 Poland Poland00000

Group F

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2 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan00000
Q Belgium Belgium00000
4 Estonia Estonia00000
5 Sweden Sweden00000

Group G

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1 Bulgaria Bulgaria00000
Q Hungary Hungary00000
3 Lithuania Lithuania00000
4 Montenegro Montenegro00000
Q Serbia Serbia00000

Group H

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2 Finland Finland00000
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5 San Marino flag San Marino00000
Q Slovenia Slovenia00000

Group I

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2 Belarus Belarus00000
3 Israel Israel00000
4 Kosovo flag Kosovo00000
Q Romania Romania00000
Q Switzerland Switzerland00000

Group J

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1 Bosnia Bosnia H'vina00000
2 Iceland Iceland00000
3 Liechtenstein flag Liechtenstein00000
4 Luxembourg flag Luxembourg00000
Q Portugal Portugal00000
Q Slovakia Slovakia00000


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