Man United's Raphael Varane 'to start for France against Denmark'

Man United’s Raphael Varane ‘to start for France against Denmark’ after overcoming thigh injury… with manager Didier Deschamps set to bring in Jules Kounde to replace Benjamin Pavard at right-back

  • Raphael Varane is reportedly going to start France’s match against Denmark 
  • The Manchester United defender has missed the last month with a thigh injury 
  • Didier Deschamps is also set to bring in Jules Kounde at right-back on Saturday 
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Raphael Varane is set to start France’s World Cup game against Denmark despite being absent since late October, according to a report.

The 29-year-old picked up an injury to his thigh in Manchester United’s draw against Chelsea on October 22, and hasn’t played a competitive fixture in over a month.

But head coach Didier Deschamps is considering who to send out for France on Saturday after their 4-1 victory over Australia on Tuesday.

Raphael Varane looks set for his first match time in over a month when France take on Denmark

And French sports title L’Equipe believe former Real Madrid centre-back Varane is likely to start against Denmark in the crucial Group D fixture, while Ibrahima Konate will drop to the bench.

Deschamps said the Man United man was ‘fit and ready’ for the Australia game, but remained unused, and now he is set to get his first match time in Qatar at Stadium 974.

It is also thought that Deschamps will make one other change, replacing Benjamin Pavard at right-back with 23-year-old Jules Kounde, according to their training session on Friday.

Bayern Munich defender Pavard was at fault for Craig Goodwin’s opening goal, although France managed to come back and secure the win with relative ease.

Barcelona’s Kounde replaced Pavard in the latter stages of Tuesday’s match, and it is likely that this will be the way the team starts out against Denmark, who secured a scoreless draw with Tunisia in their opening match.

Didier Deschamps is expected to make two changes to the France team that beat Australia 4-1

The other nine players are set to remain the same for France, as L’Equipe believes the current World Cup holders will retain their 4-3-3 shape.

This includes goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, Theo Hernandez at left-back, and an attacking line-up consisting of Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele, Kylian Mbappe, and Olivier Giroud.

Securing three points against Denmark will put France in a promising position to qualify from Group D, with a third group stage match against Tunisia on Wednesday.

France’s rumoured XI for Denmark on Saturday: Lloris; Kounde, Varane, Upamecano, T. Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe; Giroud.

Benjamin Pavard is set to miss out on Saturday after his error led to Australia’s goal on Tuesday




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