France's Injury Storm Tests Deschamps Ahead of Iceland Showdown

Injury Storm Hits France Ahead of Iceland Clash

October brings a wave of problems to Didier Deschamps and his France squad as they prepare for Iceland in Reykjavik. The mood at camp is cautious as Les Bleus seek a stable lineup amid a spate of injuries.

According to L'Equipe, Ibrahima Konaté will depart the training camp early to return to Liverpool after sustaining a thigh injury, ruling him out of the Iceland trip. He joined the camp already carrying an issue and watched the Azerbaijan victory from the substitutes’ bench.

As a result, Konaté will miss France's October fixtures, joining Kylian Mbappé who is also on a tailored rehab program after an ankle concern. The French newspaper notes Mbappé has been following a careful recovery plan, with reassuring recent results on his scans.

Deschamps' camp has also seen a reshuffle: Benjamin Pavard has been recalled to replace Konaté, while Florian Thauvin makes a welcome return after a long absence, having scored in the recent win over Azerbaijan.

France lead Group D with nine points from three wins, while Ukraine sit second on four, Iceland third on three, and Azerbaijan bottom with one. The group schedule wraps up with a home match against Ukraine and an away game vs Azerbaijan on 13 and 16 November, as the race toward the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico intensifies.

The October squad for France features 23 players across all positions. In goal, Lucas Chevalier (PSG), Mike Maignan (Milan), and Brice Samba (Rennes) are listed. The defense includes Lucas Digne (Aston Villa), Malo Gusto (Chelsea), Lucas Hernandez (PSG), Theo Hernandez (Al Hilal), Ibrahim Konaté (Liverpool), Jules Koundé (Barcelona), William Saliba (Arsenal), and Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich).

Midfielders listed are Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), M’baye Kone (Roma), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Adrien Rabiot (Milan), and Khéphren Thuram (Juventus). Forwards include Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid), Florian Thauvin (Lance), Bradley Barcola (PSG), Magnus Akliouch (Monaco), and Christopher Nkunku (AC Milan).

Camavinga returns to the fold to replace Orelien Chouamini, suspended by UEFA, while Saliba comes back in place of Pavard as Deschamps tightens his options on the defensive line. The piece also highlights Jean-Philippe Mateta as a fresh face, tracing his ascent from Châteauroux to Lyon, Le Havre, Mainz, and Crystal Palace, including his Olympic breakthrough with France in Paris 2024.

On the club side, Mateta has balanced club duties with a strong start for Palace this season, while Mbappé’s situation remains the focal point for fans and pundits alike as France navigates injuries while chasing World Cup qualification at the European level.

Punchlines

Note to self: if calendars could get injured, France would still be chasing the World Cup in a perpetual injury time.

Kick-off truth: the bench isn’t a bench, it’s a revolving door—bring snacks and souvenir ankle braces.