Austria vs France lineups: Euro 2024 team news, predicted XIs and latest injury
N’Golo Kante is set to start for France against Austria in their Euro 2024 kick-off, but Les Bleus face familiar questions over Kylian Mbappe.
Didier Deschamps must decide between sending Mbappe out as his central striker or whether to pair him with Olivier Giroud, an attacking set-up which the French have favoured to great success in recent tournaments.
Giroud, 37, is no longer at the peak of his powers but could beat Marcus Thuram to start up front with the Inter Milan forward another option through the middle.
Mbappe sat out training on Thursday along with Kingsley Coman amid a virus hitting the France squad, although there is little sign yet that he’ll miss Monday’s game.
The absence of Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni for the Euros means Kante, 33, will line up in midfield, likely next to Eduardo Camavinga, upon his recall after two years away from the national team.
France are also missing Lucas Hernandez, meaning his brother Theo Hernandez should get the nod at left-back, with Ibrahima Konate set to beat William Saliba to start at centre-back.
Austria will be without injured talisman David Alaba but have plenty of experience in the form of stand-in captain Marcel Sabitzer, Marko Arnautovic and Michael Gregoritsch.
Ralf Rangnick favours a 4-2-3-1 with RB Leipzig’s Christoph Baumgartner a chief creative force.
Predicted Austria XI: Linder; Posch, Lienhart, Trauner, Mwene; Laimer, Seiwald; Wimmer, Sabitzer, Baumgartner; Gregoritsch
Predicted France XI: Maignan; Kounde, Konate, Upamecano, Hernandez; Kante, Camavinga; Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe; Giroud
Time and date: 8pm BST, Monday June 17, 2024
Venue: Dusseldorf Arena
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