what to remember from the last test of the Blues?

We expected a lot of things from the Blues this Tuesday evening. The French welcomed Bulgaria to the Stade de France for the last test before the Euro. For this confrontation, Didier Deschamps aligned a 4-4-3 with a trident in the midfield composed of Kanté, Pogba and Tolisso, responsible for supplying balloons to a trio already aligned in Nice against Wales: Griezmann, Mbappé, Benzema. Those who expected an offensive festival can immediately move on. However, the Blues found the fault relatively quickly since in the turn of the 30th minute, after a crazy class action by Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann, well helped by a defender, propelled, from a bicycle, the leather at the bottom of the nets.

However, this is not necessarily what should be remembered from the evening. Of course, it will be necessary to speak about the exit on injury of Karim Benzema before half-time, but also of the fact that Lucas Hernandez, following a blow to the knee, can not last more than 45 minutes. But what emerges from this France team seems much more important. Indeed, offensively, as we know, it is rather well armed and above all, the three in front do not step on each other. Griezmann acts as a free electron, Mbappé takes the depth when Benzema moves out or Giroud plays the points of support. What was probably the most impressive this Tuesday evening, and which augurs well for good things, it is especially the midfielder of the band to Didier Deschamps.

Pogba, master of the environment, Giroud the efficient

Indeed, after an excellent match against Wales, Corentin Tolisso, who has just returned from injury, was renewed by Deschamps. His aggressiveness and his demise are to be shown in all football schools. We also found N’Golo Kanté, author of a memorable end of the season with Chelsea, always so precious, indispensable and tireless at the four corners of the field. But what about Paul Pogba? The Mancunien had been the main instigator of the offensives – with Griezmann – in Nice, he revealed himself a little more.

Always so preponderant in organizing the game of the Blues from behind, he was spectacular, while remaining effective against Bulgaria. He is on the penultimate pass on Griezmann’s goal and has distilled long play and short play with incredible ease. His numerous returns of balls, at the foot, raised more than once the supporters of the Blues present in the Dionysian enclosure.

Deschamps is happy

Defensively, there was not much in front, of course, but Presnel Kimpembe was solid and especially concentrated when Raphaël Varane offered himself some fantastic lifts with the ball. Small black point, the inability of the laterals, despite their very high position, to bring danger. The other small doubt concerns the offensive effectiveness. With a few actions, from Mbappé or Griezmann, the score could have been much heavier … As in Nice. But the last two points were saved by the end of the match of Olivier Giroud, double scorer.

Didier Deschamps seemed happy with this fortnight of preparation. ” This fortnight is over. We had two matches, the first with exclusion, that somewhat distorted the analysis of the match with the Welsh who had intentions and they put us in more difficulty than the Bulgarians. It was the last rehearsal, with the supporters, it’s something that stimulates players. What I expected from the group, it was not a preparation match, it was what was going to await us on the 15th. The level will be higher, but in the attitudes, those who started and those who returned were in the truth. We’re gonna need it all for what’s to come », He commented soberly. Next meeting, June 15, in Germany against Mannschaft.