DECRYPTION – Everything you need to know before the start of the gathering of the French world champion team, this Monday, in Clairefontaine.
The World Cup is already now for the Blues. Expected this Monday, while some still played on Sunday, the Deschamps players will take advantage of the Clairefontaine facilities for two days, between getting started (training Monday and Tuesday) and meeting with the media. The big departure towards Doha and Qatar is scheduled for Wednesday, six days before the first match of the French team at the World Cup, against Australia (November 22). Kylian Mbappé and company will then face Denmark (26/11) and Tunisia (30/11) in this group D well within their reach. Five questions to understand everything, know everything before this gathering.
Is this the last campaign of Didier Deschamps?
In place for 10 years, Deschamps will be free at the end of the World Cup. A first, the former captain of the Blues having always been extended before major international competitions so far. In an interview at The Team , Noël Le Graët clarified things, recalling in the preamble that the objective remains the last four for the reigning world champions. “If we go to the semi-finals, it is he who has the choice. If he feels motivated to continue, we don’t even argue. If we’re not in the last four, we discuss… In this case, it’s me who has the hand“Explains the president of the French Football Federation (FFF). Recall that no team has managed the feat of retaining its title of world champion since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. In fact, four of the last five winners have been ejected in the first round, France in 2002, l in 2010, Spain in 2014 and Germany in 2018! “You won’t be able to undermine my morale“, smiles Deschamps, recalling that there is nothing harder than to “maintain at a very high level».
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«We will do everything, I trust these 25 players to give everything. It’s not seeing yourself as more beautiful than you are. The French sportsman, all disciplines combined, is not the best when he is in comfort, and we cannot say that we are really in comfort with all that can happen… There are steps to be taken . Before seeing each other further, you have to pass the first round in order to switch to a second competition“, he continues, not worn out, always motivated, “thoroughly“. With the shadow of ‘ZZ’ overhead…”I am in the same state of mind as before each major competition. There will be an after, I’m tied to the results, but I don’t have that concern. It gives me total freedom“says Didier Deschamps, “concentrate».
Do the Blues have the best attack in the world?
Kingsley Coman said so before the Euros, in 2021. We know the rest… Also in 2002, football France was proud to present itself in South Korea and Japan with the top scorer in France (Djibril Cissé ), England (Thierry Henry) and Italy (David Trezeguet). A flop. This time again, the Blues will have several of the best attackers on the planet, including the Golden Ball Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), the prodigy Kylian Mbappé (PSG) and the safe bet Antoine Griezmann (Atlético), but also Ousmane Dembélé (Barça) and Christopher Nkunku (Leipzig), major players in their respective leagues. Still, it is not forbidden to think that Coman, also present in the group, would be right to confirm his comments from last year. Individualities, bench depth, form of the moment… Heavy in front, that’s for sure. Even Neymar Jr’s Brazil, Messi’s Argentina, Ronaldo’s England, Belgium or Portugal cannot say the same.
Having the best attack in the world on paper is not a guarantee of success, however, that is also clear. Didier Deschamps will not fail to remind his troops of this. It is up to him to make the most of the exceptional attacking potential at his disposal and to find the best formula in terms of starting composition.
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Is the medium strong enough to aim for the stars?
That’s the whole question. As much as the coach will have certainties in front and behind, with experienced players who are familiar with his speech, his methods and the requirement of the very high international level. As much in the midfield, the packages of N’Golo Kanté and Paul Pogba imposed a breath of fresh air on him. From the top of his 14 small selections, the neo-Madrilenian Aurélien Tchouaméni acts as a taulier! It will be in any case, a priori, the strong man of the French midfielder. The most experienced of the band is Adrien Rabiot, 29 caps. For the rest, no one has more than six selections in this sector of play. Six for Mattéo Guendouzi, five for his teammate at OM Jordan Veretout, four for Eduardo Camavinga (Real) and only two for Youssouf Fofana (Monaco). Did Deschamps have a choice? Not too much… For various reasons, Boubacar Kamara (Aston Villa), Tanguy Ndombélé (Naples) and Corentin Tolisso (Lyon) weren’t really in the race.
Will Giroud overtake Henry in Qatar?
It will be hard. But why not ? Olivier Giroud will already have some playing time. However, he obviously leaves behind the trio made up of Kylian Mbappé, Antoine Griezmann and above all … Formula 1 Karim Benzema. Moreover, we remember that the AC Milan striker did not score during the victorious campaign in Russia. Still, Giroud has only two small goals to score to equal Thierry Henry and his 51 achievements in the tricolor jersey. Little and a lot at the same time. One thing is certain: if he succeeds, it would be a good sign for the France team… Olivier Giroud, 35, has 49 goals in 114 caps, against 123 for “Titi” Henry.
Read alsoOlivier Giroud with the Blues at the World Cup: behind the scenes of a turnaround in five acts
The convalescents Benzema, Varane and Kimpembe holders against Australia?
One thing is certain: Didier Deschamps would not have called them if he did not believe in it. He might not have selected so many central defenders if he was completely sure of himself regarding Raphaël Varane and Presnel Kimpembe… On the job at Clairefontaine for several days already, the Mancunian has not played since the 20 october. The Parisian had only played 70 minutes in total since mid-September before being lined up for a quarter of an hour against AJA on Sunday (5-0). Karim Benzema ? He has missed the last four La Liga matches. He had played 26 minutes against Celtic on November 2 before being released. For Deschamps, no doubt: Kimpembe and Varane will be operational against Australia. The coach is no more worried about Benzema, who “did not take any riskover the past few weeks, that’s all. To see if the former captain of OM European champion in 93 will field a more attacking 11 than usual against the Australians, with perhaps a quartet made up of Benzema, Griezmann, Mbappé and another element to right, Coman or Dembélé, before tightening the bolts later in the tournament. It’s possible.