what you need to know about France

The qualification path and the group

The euphoria of the second star was quickly overtaken by the sea serpent of an overly minimalist game. Saved by the entry of Kylian Mbappé in a badly embarked friendly match against Iceland in October 2018, France takes a first slap a month later in Rotterdam. Dryly beaten 2-0 by the Netherlands, the Blues know their first defeat since the coronation and that evening condition their rout in the Nation League. It is the sixth defeat in an official match of the Deschamps era and it is often marked by an attack at half mast. Not too alarming, there is still time, let’s change! Not so fast. The France team starts its qualifications for the Euro, in March 2019, in its asymmetrical 4-2-3-1 tinkered with for the second match of the 2018 World Cup. The pool is affordable and France easily crushes the modest Moldova to warm up (4-1). The second step is called Iceland. One of the two “big” of the group. Price: 4-0. Is this going to be a walk in the park after all?

Not sure. In June, France turned the other cheek against Turkey and lost 2-0 in Konya. A number sums up the evening: the Blues shoot 4 times and never fit! Blaise Matuidi, left winger, came out at half-time. There, it will move! Always not. The Blues march on Andorra (4-0, 3-0), folds Albania (4-1) and dismisses Iceland (1-0). The time comes for a reunion with Turkey, this time at the Stade de France. France puts on its 4-2-3-1 fight, opens the scoring by Olivier Giroud (you can see that nothing needs to be changed!) … but is caught on the buzzer on a header from Kaan Ayhan (1-1, 82nd). Fortunately, the DD cat goes through there and Turkey stumbles against Iceland (0-0): the Habs finish first in the pool. Time for change. The Blues end their campaign in 3-4-1-2. A turning point, since France will finally look for a new face in 2020. Perhaps to find it during the second match of the Euro? Placed in group F, it will be there in good company, with the 2014 world champion (Germany), the defending champion (Portugal) and Hungary. If she will not have to procrastinate too much to avoid a bad surprise, she leaves favorite with the Seleção.

The eleven guy

The qualities and weaknesses

With a few exceptions and depending on the sensibilities or age of each (some will think of the 84/86 generation or that of Euro 2000), the France team has one or one of the most beautiful groups of his history. In quality and quantity. Where the Blues of the 80’s drew their strength in the middle or those of 2000 in the defense, this 2021 version relies on its attack. There are arrows, destabilizers and provocateurs of high flight (Kingsley Coman, Ousmane Dembélé, Marcus Thuram). An experienced target man or pivot (Olivier Giroud). Advanced leaders or 9 and a half, also capable of moving across the entire front of the attack and putting their partners in the best possible position, such as being clinical in the face of goal (Karim Benzema, Antoine Griezmann, Wissam Ben Yedder). And finally, a space devourer in a resplendent form: Kylian Mbappé (which we classify separately, because of its impact on the physiognomy of a match and its tendency to dive towards the axis from the side). Difficult to find a more complete selection in this area.

A notch lower, the midfield is less brilliant overall but has an ultra complementary duo that never or almost never derails when the level rises: N’Golo Kanté / Paul Pogba. The form of these two will surely depend a large part of the future of the Blues, even if, to a lesser extent, Adrien Rabiot should have a card to play and that Corentin Tolisso showed beautiful things in the two matches of preparation. Finally, defense, the real foundation of 2018’s success, is perhaps the sector with the most questions. Samuel Umtiti, surprise at Euro 2016, rock in 2018 and formidable accomplice of Raphaël Varane left his knee in Russia. Who then to replace the left axis? Presnel Kimpembe surely? Maybe, but his end of the club season is worrying. Clement Lenglet? Not much better. Can we then think of a repositioning of Lucas Hernandez in hinge and to leave the corridor to a very successful Digne this season? Possible, but unlikely because the defender of Everton would then have no replacement …

The coach: Didier Deschamps

A monument of French football. As a player, in general terms, it’s 103 caps in A, a semi-final at Euro 1996 and the World Cup double 98, Euro 2000. As coach, it’s 113 matches directed – second highest total of the competition behind Joachim Löw, 2014 world champion and his 193 games since 2006 -, a final at Euro 2016 and a triumph at the 2018 World Cup. On paper, it’s unplayable. However, his chronic tactical reluctance – also called winning, or pragmatism – sometimes continues to be debated. Still, his job is to win the Blues and he does it pretty well.

The player to watch: Karim Benzema

Facilitator of offensive play in a team that lacked fluidity in this sector, KB9 comes out of an XXL season in a Casa Blanca yet under construction (see his goal in the semi-final first leg of the Champions League against Chelsea). He is, according to the expression, the best French striker in the world over the season and that is good, he found the selection 5 years and 237 days after his last match in the Blues on June 2 against Wales. The black point of Deschamps’ almost perfect mandate seems forgotten, France football in a certain way reunified (on this divisive subject at least) and the attack of the Tricolores has rarely been so sexy on paper. Like an elixir of youth, Benzema returns all its salt to the most arbitrary matches of the Blues: one wonders how these three, Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappé and Karim Benzema, will combine, move on all the front of the attack , swap, etc. Only downside, time is running out to find automatisms (even if “crack recognizes crack”) and especially a general balance to the team. We will also have to see how his crutch evolves. To be continued …

The list of 26:

Guardians: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Steve Mandanda (Olympique de Marseille), Mike Maignan (LOSC);

Defenders: Raphaël Varane (Real Madrid), Clément Lenglet (FC Barcelona), Presnel Kimpembe (Paris SG), Jules Koundé (Seville), Kurt Zouma (Chelsea), Lucas Digne (Everton), Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern) Munich), Léo Dubois (OL);

Environments : N’Golo Kanté (Chelsea), Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Thomas Lemar (Atlético de Madrid), Corentin Tolisso (Bayern Munich), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Moussa Sissoko (Tottenham);

Attackers: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Kylian Mbappé (Paris SG), Antoine Griezmann (FC Barcelona), Olivier Giroud (Chelsea), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Ousmane Dembélé (FC Barcelona), Marcus Thuram (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Wissam Ben Yedder (AS Monaco).