Deschamps counting on Griezmann, Kante for World Cup

Didier Deschamps has backed Antoine Griezmann and N’Golo Kante to be at their best by the time the World Cup arrives, heading into Friday’s Nations League clash with Austria.

After a disappointing spell at Barcelona, Griezmann’s transfer back to Atletico Madrid did not translate into an immediate return to form, while experiencing fitness concerns for the first time.

In a career that has seen him mostly without injury, missing two games in 2019-20 with Barcelona, the 31-year-old missed 15 games with Atleti due to a combination of muscle injuries and Covid-19 enforced isolation.

With that in mind, though, Deschamps believes the talismanic attacker for Les Bleus will be back to his best.

“I know him well,” Deschamps said. “He has often benefited more from playing for Les Bleus. It’s not his best period.

“A part of it is physical, and a part of it mental. He suffered his first injury this season. I’m not saying he’s worn out. I know his qualities and his mind too. He does not baulk.

“This is not his best period, but it does not mean that I question what he is capable of doing. I know very well what he can bring to the collective.”

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Along with Kylian Mbappe and Adrien Rabiot, also missing in Monday’s draw to Croatia, Kante will miss Friday’s game in Vienna due to lingering injury concerns.

The 31-year has sat extensive periods on the sidelines at club level over the past three seasons, with continual hamstring problems denying him from a consistent run of minutes at Chelsea.

After missing almost two months of football this past season, Deschamps concedes that Kante’s fitness needs to be managed, but will hope to count on him.

“When he is at full capacity, any coach wants to see him in his team,” the Les Bleus boss said. “In relation to the deadlines that are ours, let’s make sure that he is in full possession of his means.

“Many players have accumulated seasons of 60 games. At some point, organisations suffer a little more. His coach at Chelsea [Thomas Tuchel] would like to have him a little more. You have to manage it. Him there, me here.”