2024-09-10 21:21:06
STATE – After his reaction to Belgium (2-0) in the League of Nations, the French team avoided areas of chaos. Review of the first meeting of the season.
Special correspondent to Décines
In the bowels of the Groupama Stadium on Monday evening, the members of the French team did not wait to arrive at the airport before everyone left for their homes to come quickly to their team. Modern football and its infernal speed leave little room for detail(s). With a spirit of fire and a smile, for most of them, the Blues left this meeting in comfort after their tactical victory against Belgium (2-0) in the League of Nations. Three days after the Italian lesson (1-3) in the Parc des Princes, a feeling of pride took place. Not enough to get your chest out at the sight of relative misery (apart from Kevin De Bruyne, almost nothing), but enough to find a smile again. And get out of the chaos zone. Evaluation of the average return to school.
The Blues avoided the crisis
At the Parc des Princes last Friday, the public did not recognize the French team, cut in two, without any questions and guidance by individuals who forgot that football is more than any team sport. Mike Maignan has even criticized the behavior of the pseudo-star in the locker room that most of the international countries in this conference are not (5 world champions in the 23 group). Monday in Décines, in a Groupama stadium that is far from full, there is a sign of the beginnings of indifference for these boring Blues in the Euro, bursting with pride, with eight changes between the two meetings.
Read againNotes of the Blues after France-Belgium: Dembélé blood, Koundé strong, Thuram transparent
Like Kolo Muani, the author of the opening, not necessarily the most attractive footballers but certainly one of the hardest (scorer for the Blues in 2024 with 4 goals), or even Dembélé, Koné, Kanté, Koundé, Digne, Saliba, the question has been found. We appreciate the effort too. The glue of all Deschamps team. This victory has the right to avoid a crisis after the setback against Spain in July and Italy at the beginning of the school year, even if it does not take anything away from the projects that lie ahead for the Blues.
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Mbappé and Griezmann, the weakness
We appointed a leader and a deputy leader last July who were exhausted at all levels after the failed Euro. France saw them very far from their level in September. Having lost against Italy in a big way, they took their place on the substitutes’ bench on Monday evening before taking a fresh breath in the second half to bring another choice (Antoine Griezmann, 137 caps, joined Olivier Giroud as 3rd most capped Blue in history). On the field, Mbappé, who normally plays as number 9, travels to Italy, without juice and without plans. Ditto for Griezmann, moved back to position, the orphan of Giroud and not in the right tone.
Read againThe French team: Mbappé-Griezmann, “leaders” who are painful to see … and worried
Beyond the game, the behavior of the France team leader raises questions. His moon press conference on Sunday, where he appeared jaded and detached, eyebrows raised even inside. Ditto on your behavior with your partners, where you should lead your troops. Nobody saw him in that role on that sequence. As if you were somewhere else. More concerned about Real Madrid than the selection. The staff noticed it. Your colleagues too. When he helped the Blues win, his benefits took off. When you are in this much trouble, they have trouble getting into the locker room. It is up to him to change gears. Quickly.
Read againThe notes of the Blues against Italy: Mbappé and Griezmann are missing, only Barcola is electrified
Deschamps loyal to him of course
When he returned to the Côte d’Azur on Tuesday, the 55-year-old coach had to find his family with a light heart. Not that he was afraid or showed signs of stress during this sequence, but the victory in Rhône gave him some rest, which part of the public whistled before the game. The first since he took office in 2012. After the Euro, and he saw the two best players completely burned, while he looks forward to the next season with Dantesque programs (no champions – more Champions League matches, World Cup clubs next summer), it is quickly confirmed. of something. The September-October-November processes, linked to the League of Nations, must serve as a laboratory to find new players, give some breathing space and give the French team some breathing room. An appropriate strategy to provide other solutions with a view to 2026. Even if it means “goes against the general expression», as he remembered this week.
Kylian Mbappé and Kevin De Bruyne
Sarah Meyssonnier/REUTERS
This was not successful against Italy, with a team cut in two and sometimes short referees on the pitch, it was more appropriate against Belgium. French reservoirs also allowed Deschamps to play his new role as a laboratory assistant. Ask Dominico Tedesco, criticized in Belgium and whose international future of Kevin De Bruyne is on everyone’s mind after the defeat, to do the same with the Red Devils… it would be suicidal. Without Pavard, Tchouaméni, Camavinga, Rabiot or even Coman and Giroud retired, the boss of the Blues was able to review his great team. It is not necessarily always pleasant to watch, with complementarity sometimes non-existent, but this medium-term vision, with a group which will be tightened for qualification for the 2026 World Cup, must be read in the coming months. Despite the start of storms and whistles, the Deschamps menhir remains intact.
The new take day
That said back to school, said something new and in this little game, the story of the French team has seen three rookies win their first cap. The most famous, Manu Koné, who entered the game against Italy and started against Belgium, left his mark. It could have been founded after a disastrous start to the game (losing the ball, yellow card in the 4th minute), but on the contrary, the silver medalist from the Olympics showed character. To finally gain confidence and depth throughout the game, ending up as the best player in the French midfield. At 23, the native of Colombes took the points, facing competition from the particularly disappointing Youssouf Fofana. With the expected returns of Tchouaméni, Rabiot (a doubt surrounds Camavinga, who has a knee injury) in October, the player who trained in Toulouse can believe in him. It is already a victory.
The attraction of this meeting, Michael Olise (22 years old) asked to be seen again. Starting Friday on the right side of the frumpy side, he showed a glimpse of his creativity and sense of play with his left foot. The Blues need him, even more so given Griezmann’s problems. If his entry into the game for 17 minutes at the Groupama Stadium did not surprise many people, the Munich player was there to receive his quotes, discover the team and the performance of the staff… without missing a beat, eager to be well understood. praised by Thierry Henry. Barring injury, he will be there in October. It will be difficult for Loïc Badé, who is injured and who has to leave, in a sector of the game where the competition is tough (Pavard, Fofana, Lukeba, Yoro, etc.). If Deschamps follows his plan, and there is no reason why this is not the case, other players will explore the selection in October (10 and 14) for the matches against Israel and Belgium. The start of the Champions League, with many French people participating, the staff will follow closely.
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