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France's goalkeeper, Mike Maignan, was notably absent from the team's final collective training session, just three days before the 'Les Bleus' kick off their 2026 World Cup campaign against Senegal.
According to the latest reports from French television channel Canal+, the reason for the AC Milan shot-stopper's absence has not yet been officially disclosed. However, his non-participation in the session has sparked considerable concern among the coaching staff and fans alike. During the tactical preparations, Brice Samba stepped in to fill Maignan's gloves between the posts.
Maignan's absence compelled the coaching staff to experiment with various defensive setups. In front of Samba, a central defensive pairing of Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba was trialed. Jules Kounde and Theo Hernandez operated on the flanks of the defense.
The midfield and attack also saw interesting tactical adjustments. The coaches opted for the duo of Aurélien Tchouaméni and Adrien Rabiot in the holding midfield roles. Ahead of them, an offensive and creative quartet was deployed, featuring Michael Olise, Désiré Doué, Ousmane Dembélé, and captain Kylian Mbappé.
This attacking formation was also tested during the recent friendly match against Northern Ireland, suggesting it could be one of the team's primary tactical approaches for the tournament.
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