This Friday, the French national team will play a Nations League match against Turkey at 8:45 PM at Kocaeli Stadium. The match involves three Paris Saint-Germain players—all French: Désiré Doué, Maghnes Akliouche, and Ousmane Dembélé. On Thursday, L’Équipe reported a projected 4-3-3 lineup featuring some bold choices, including Dembélé playing as the central striker.
Mbappé – Dembélé – Olise
Rabiot – Koné – Cherki
Diouf – Lacroix – Upamecano – Koundé
Maignan.
It is a plausible lineup, utilizing a 4-3-3 formation that appears to have been the focus of training sessions all week—or at least, that is the consensus among the media. However, nothing is set in stone yet, as the system allows for various personnel choices.
Perhaps the most striking detail here is seeing Dembélé as the central striker—a role he is accustomed to at PSG but plays far less frequently for Les Bleus. Mbappé has often occupied that spot in recent years, but Zidane appears to have decided to move the Real Madrid star back to the wing, where he frequently excelled before shifting to a central role.
Seeing Rayan Cherki in midfield is also notable, representing a rather attacking choice given his profile. Furthermore, the Manchester City playmaker was clearly a backup option during the World Cup; now, he has the chance to establish himself. That said, nothing is finalized yet, and every player should get an opportunity during this four-match international break. We will have to wait to confirm the actual lineup for this opening match.
