Kylian Mbappe leads France against Brazil. Here are the probable starting XIs, with three PSG players for this international friendly.
Update: PSG captain Marquinhos is out for the friendly match against France, Carlo Ancelotti has just announced.
The French national team faces Brazil on Thursday night in a friendly near Boston, United States. A match that three PSG players could start, even if there is a major doubt regarding Marquinhos. Here are the probable lineups on the eve of this France vs. Brazil match.
For this last international break before the 2026 World Cup, many nations have decided to go to the United States, where the competition will be played this summer (in addition to Canada and Mexico). The French team will thus face Brazil on Thursday at Foxborough, near Boston.
Despite the absence of Bradley Barcola, injured, the French team has 5 PSG representatives in its squad, but only two should start on Thursday night against the Selecao: Ousmane Dembele, on the right wing of the French 4-2-3-1, and Desire Doue, on the other side.
Recently returned from injury, Kylian Mbappe should start up front, but not play the entire match, while Michael Olise will normally be deployed as a number ten. In goal, former Parisian Mike Maignan will be there rather than Lucas Chevalier, relegated to third in the goalkeeper hierarchy for the France team.
In the absence of Jules Kounde and William Saliba, injured, Malo Gusto and Ibrahima Konate are expected in defense, along with Dayot Upamecano in the center and Lucas Digne on the left. The midfield should be composed of Aurelien Tchouameni and Adrien Rabiot, with Manu Kone absent. Barring any surprises, Warren Zaïre-Emery and Lucas Hernandez should not start this France/Brazil match.
France's predicted lineup vs. Brazil: Maignan; Gusto, Konate, Upamecano, Digne; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Olise, Doue; Mbappe.
On Brazil's side, Carlo Ancelotti has a huge number of absentees for this gathering. The Italian coach of the Selecao chose not to call up Neymar for this break and also has many injured or unfit players: Gabriel, Alex Sandro, Rodrygo, Alisson, Bruno Guimaraes, Militao, and Estevao.
Captain of Brazil, Marquinhos, was carefully managed on Monday in Orlando during the first Selecao training session and did not come out on the field on Tuesday during the second session. The PSG central defender is bothered by his right thigh and remained indoors on Tuesday.
In terms of certainty, Brazil should field four attacking players, including Vinicius Junior and Raphinha. We could also see two Chelsea players in the starting lineup: Joao Pedro up front and Andrey Santos in midfield, the latter expected to start alongside Casemiro. In goal, Ederson will start in the absence of Alisson.
Brazil's predicted lineup vs. France: Ederson; Wesley, Marquinhos (or Ibanez), Bremer, Douglas Santos; Casemiro, Andrey Santos; Raphinha, Cunha, Vinicius Junior; Joao Pedro.
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