MX23RW : Thursday, April 18 08:01:47| >> :120:16554:16554:
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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
Q Spain Spain870121
Q Scotland flag Scotland852117
3 Norway Norway832311
4 Georgia Georgia82248
5 Cyprus Cyprus80080

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France871022
Q Netherlands Netherlands860218
3 Greece Greece841313
4 Ireland Rep. Ireland82066
5 Gibraltar flag Gibraltar80080

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England862020
Q Italy Italy842214
3 Ukraine Ukraine842214
4 Macedonia N. Macedonia82248
5 Malta flag Malta80080

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Turkey Turkey852117
Q Croatia Croatia851216
3 Wales flag Wales833212
4 Armenia Armenia82248
5 Latvia Latvia81073

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Albania national flag Albania843115
Q Czech Republic Czech Republic843115
3 Poland Poland832311
4 Republic of Moldova Moldova824210
5 Faroe Islands Faroe Islands80262

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Belgium Belgium862020
Q Austria Austria861119
3 Sweden Sweden831410
4 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan82157
5 Estonia Estonia80171

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Hungary Hungary853018
Q Serbia Serbia842214
3 Montenegro Montenegro832311
4 Lithuania Lithuania81346
5 Bulgaria Bulgaria80444

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Denmark Denmark1071222
Q Slovenia Slovenia1071222
3 Finland Finland1060418
4 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan1060418
5 Northern Ireland flag N. Ireland103079
6 San Marino flag San Marino1000100

Group I

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania1064022
Q Switzerland Switzerland1045117
3 Israel Israel1043315
4 Belarus Belarus1033412
5 Kosovo flag Kosovo1025311
6 Andorra flag Andorra100282

Group J

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal10100030
Q Slovakia Slovakia1071222
3 Luxembourg flag Luxembourg1052317
4 Iceland Iceland1031610
5 Bosnia Bosnia H'vina103079
6 Liechtenstein flag Liechtenstein1000100


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