World Cup Selection Dilemma: Who do France use to replace Payet?

Dimitri Payet’s thigh injury in Marseille’s Europa League final 3-0 loss to Atletico Madrid not only hindered the French side’s chance of European glory, but had an impact on France’s chances of World Cup glory. Payet would’ve been selected by Didier Deschamps for Russia 2018 and is likely to have started for Les Bleus this summer, but the thigh issue sustained ended any chances of international success. 

Fortunately for France, they aren’t a nation devoid of world-class talent in nearly every position. Payet’s availability would’ve been a boost, yet Deschamps is able to call upon Ousmane Dembele, Nabil Fekir, Kylian Mbappe, Florian Thauvin, Thomas Lemar and Antoine Griezmann in wide positions, all of who made France’s World Cup squad. 

However, it remains to be seen how Deschamps accommodates all into his starting XI in his favoured 4-3-3 setup. Griezmann is one of France’s star men, and he’s likely to spearhead the attack, but it’s handy to have the Atletico Madrid man as an option on the left of the attack, which would then allow Olivier Giroud the chance to start. 

What’s more, Griezmann’s inclusion on the left would allow for greater tactical flexibility. If, as is expected, Deschamps fields a midfield three of Paul Pogba, Blaise Matuidi and N’Golo Kante, France could easily switch to a 4-4-2 with one of Pogba or Matuidi moving to the left and Griezmann alongside Giroud. It’s more likely that Giroud will be used as a plan B, though, with Griezmann leading the charge, which would see one of Dembele, Fekir, Lemar or Thauvin starting on the left, what with Mbappe featuring from the right. 

That being said, Dembele and Thauvin are both right wingers. The former, though, has struggled for game time and consistency due to injury with Barcelona this season having started just 12 league matches for Ernesto Valverde’s side this season on the back of his big money arrival from Borussia Dortmund. Thauvin, meanwhilem excelled for Marseille, with the 25-year-old one of 14 players to register double figures for both goals (22) and assists (11) in Europe’s top five leagues this season. 

He won more WhoScored.com man of the match awards (13) than any other Ligue 1 player this season, with a WhoScored.com rating of 7.94 enough to feature in the European team of the campaign. Thauvin has developed a style of play of ‘likes to cut inside’, so it could be that the Marseille man cuts onto his right from the left, which may benefit the France left-back, likely to be Benjamin Mendy. 

Fekir would adopt a similar approach to Thauvin, with the Lyon star and Liverpool target better suited to playing in a central role and having scored 18 goals and registered eight assists, it will be tough to leave the 24-year-old out of the starting XI. It further reinforces France’s incredible strength in depth, especially in the final third. 

If Deschamps is looking to replicate the threat Payet offers then Lemar, even on the back of a disappointing campaign, is the best like-for-like replacement for the Marseille man, but if it’s searing pace he’s after; Thauvin or Dembele would be the better options, with the former’s good season perhaps putting him ahead of the latter in the pecking order. Fekir offers an alternative threat in attack and it’s a dilemma Deschamps, while handing him a selection headache, welcomes.