Aston Villa: Boubacar Kamara and Lucas Digne miss out on France World Cup squad
Aston Villa duo Boubacar Kamara and Lucas Digne have been left out of France’s 26-man squad for the World Cup in Qatar.
Both players had featured for their country during the September international break, but were left disappointed by French national coach Didier Deschamps on Wednesday and will now remain with Unai Emery’s first team during the six-week winter break.
Digne, who has been capped 46 times for France, scored in his first start for Aston Villa in eight weeks against Manchester United after suffering a heel injury earlier in the season.
However, his return from injury – alongside Kamara, who himself endured a knee ligament injury – came too late for Deschamps’s liking.
The French boss outlined several tactical reasonings for Digne’s omission from the squad in his press conference on Wednesday morning (9 November).
“There are centrals that I consider more on the sides than in the axis, it is not difficult to identify them,” Deschamps said.
“It will be a four-man defence. It’s always a long reflection after the analysis of what we have done, a lot of discussions with my staff and my players. The feelings of certain players nourish my thinking.
“You have to defend well (with three players), defend better, not to the detriment of the (attack) but if I choose this option it is because I am convinced that it is more suitable.”
Untimely injuries
Clearly, the French national squad is ripe with talent, but both Digne and Kamara would have been at the forefront of Deschamps’ plans just a few months ago.
However, the combination of untimely injuries and the club’s poor run of form under Steven Gerrard seems the most likely reasons for their omissions – even if the Deschamps said it was down to tactical flexibility.
Digne will feel especially hard done by as the French squad includes just one recognised full-back in Theo Hernandez, with Benjamin Pavard and Jules Kounde also seen as options to play anywhere across the back line.
However, Emery will be extremely pleased to have been awarded an extra six weeks to work with the pair, who are likely to feature consistently for Villa during the second half of the season.
The Villa manager will want to drill down on the details with Kamara who has yet to spark into life in a Claret and Blue shirt, but has the potential to be the heart of Aston Villa’s midfield for years to come.
In other news, Leon Bailey set to become Aston Villa star in new role under Emery