Despite a difficult first season with Crystal Palace, largely down to injury, Steve Mandanda has a very good chance of making France’s 2018 World Cup squad, report L’Equipe on Monday.
Since moving from Marseille, Mandanda has managed just 810 minutes of Premier League football for Crystal Palace, and even when fully fit there’s more than a suggestion Sam Allardyce would plump for Wayne Hennessey.
Whilst there’s still a lot of faith in Mandanda in France, Yohan Cabaye and Mamadou Sakho aren’t in the same position. L’Equipe give Sakho, on loan from Liverpool, just a 
20% chance, whilst Cabaye gets gets even less at 5%.
France have excellent options at both central defence and midfield.
An example of the strength in defence is Athletic Club Bilbao’s Aymeric Laporte, who is given just a 10% chance.
In midfield, Steven N’Zonzi gets just 5%, despite being one of the best in La Liga in his position so far this season.
