The Under-21 Euro (June 21 – July 8) is fast approaching and the preparation of the France U23 team, ideal until now, has just taken a worrying turn. Reduced by injuries, the Blueberries have indeed lost heavily against England (4-0) this Saturday in Leicester, in a friendly match which could leave traces, especially among players who were celebrating their first call.
A “slap” for Ripoll
A few months before their summer goal, the Euro in Romania and Georgia, the Blueberries are still running in: despite several opportunities, Rayan Cherki’s partners collapsed in the second half and will have to react on Tuesday (6:30 p.m.) in Vannes against the Spain, another European cador, still friendly.
Arsenal players Emile Smith Rowe (50th), Chelsea Noni Madueke (77th), Liverpool Curtis Jones (79th) and Aston Villa Jacob Ramsey (86th) scored for the ‘Young Lions’, who clearly declared as candidates for the European title. “We can’t start the second half like this, we’re getting carried away”, railed coach Sylvain Ripoll on Canal +. “It’s not reassuring, but there are slaps that can put things back in place”.
Many executives absent
The technician, who is also preparing for the Paris-2024 Olympic Games, nevertheless knows that on Friday he lacked many “U21” executives, from Maxence Caqueret to Adrien Truffert (injured), via Pierre Kalulu, preserved on this meeting . But France suffered from a lack of creativity and efficiency, like a transparent Matthis Abline in attack. Cherki also harvested a few chances, while Rennes’ Amine Gouiri and Arnaud Kalimuendo only came on during the second half.
Les Bleuets, who remained on 14 matches without defeat before this rout, completely fell apart in the second half. Even Benoît Badiashile, captain already selected for the Blues, and Mohamed Simakan, convincing at the start of the match, ended up cracking in the central hinge. Several French hopefuls (Johann Lepenant, Valentin Gendrey, Bradley Barcola, Andy Diouf, Han-Noah Massengo , Niels Nkounkou) celebrated their first selection on Saturday in Leicester. They will not keep an imperishable memory of it.