This Thursday, the French national team will play Ukraine in a 2026 World Cup qualifier at 8:45 PM at the Parc des Princes. Ahead of the match, Le Parisien and L’Equipe have attempted to predict the starting lineup that coach Didier Deschamps will field. Three Paris Saint-Germain players are involved in the match. For France, Lucas Hernandez, Warren Zaïre-Emery, and Désiré Doué are included. For Ukraine, Ilya Zabarnyi is the only player expected to start.
Le Parisien (4-2-3-1) –
Mbappé
Barcola – Cherki – Olise
Koné – Kanté
Digne – Upamecano – Saliba – Koundé
Maignan.
L’Equipe (4-2-3-1) –
Mbappé
Barcola – Cherki – Olise
Koné – Kanté
Digne – Upamecano – Saliba – Koundé
Maignan.
These are all perfectly plausible lineups, given recent matches and player availability. Especially since the press is generally more accurate with Deschamps’ France than with Luis Enrique’s PSG. Even if there are sometimes one or two changes when the official lineup is announced about an hour before kickoff. So we remain cautious, hoping for a team with some attacking potential, including a Rayan Cherki in top form.
But Barcola could well start after being rested against Lyon last Sunday. As he himself mentioned fatigue recently, we hope he will then be rested against Azerbaijan this Sunday. As for the other PSG players, they might come on as substitutes or start in the next match. Notably Chevalier, who would thus make his first appearance for the national team. That would be the plan if they qualify tonight with a win.
