Rafael Nogueira
Didier Deschamps has never been a manager who tears up his squad list from one announcement to the next. Yet across three major tournaments, he has caught France fans off guard with names nobody saw coming. With his 2026 World Cup squad set to be revealed this Thursday evening, it is worth revisiting the selections that sparked the biggest reactions.
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Morgan Schneiderlin & Rémy Cabella – 2014
Heading into his first World Cup as France manager, Deschamps named Morgan Schneiderlin and Rémy Cabella among the reserves, a decision that drew immediate attention. The two were initially fringe additions, but injuries to Franck Ribéry and Clément Grenier before the tournament opened the door for both to join the main squad.
The Southampton midfielder Schneiderlin earned a substitute appearance in the final group-stage match against Ecuador. The Montpellier forward Cabella stayed on the bench for the entire tournament without a single minute played.
Steven Nzonzi – 2018
The selection of Steven Nzonzi for the 2018 World Cup became one of the most talked-about squad decisions in recent France history, less because of the Sevilla FC midfielder himself and more because of who it displaced. Adrien Rabiot was left out of the main squad and named only as a reserve.
Rabiot, then at Paris Saint-Germain, publicly refused the reserve call-up in a statement that dominated headlines for days. Nzonzi, who had received his first senior France cap only in November 2017, went on to lift the World Cup trophy in Russia.
Karim Benzema – 2021
Few comebacks in international football carry the weight of Karim Benzema‘s return to the France squad for Euro 2020. Years of dispute and controversy had kept the Real Madrid striker out of the national setup entirely. When Deschamps finally confirmed his recall on TF1‘s 8 p.m. news, it ended 24 hours of nationwide suspense after reports had leaked the day before.
The return did not produce the expected result. France were eliminated in the round of 16 by Switzerland, despite Benzema‘s presence in the squad.
Whether Deschamps adds another name to this list tonight remains to be seen. Follow TipsGG for full coverage of the France 2026 World Cup squad announcement and expert analysis of every pick.