From our special correspondent in Milan,
As would say Mark of the Flame : “It is too early to make a choice, but my decision has been made”. This is more or less what inspired us the first response of Didier Deschamps at a press conference on the system with three defenders. Basically “it is possible that I play three behind” but it is not sure yet. It is that opposite, Spain play four and that until now DD has played with three central defenders only against teams that played in the same way. However, and it is a certainty, “Spain will play four behind, with a very classic animation, even if it was changed to 4-4-2 diamond in the previous match. Afterwards, maybe it was to adapt to Italy. “
The three-way defense, then. Or rather five in the defensive phase, just to occupy the entire width. A phenomenon clearly visible at the stadium when we accept to abandon the ball a little to have a general picture of the game. “The disadvantage is that against Spain it is necessarily more complicated because the width is better occupied with Spanish doublets which are formed [sur les côtés]. The advantage, since there is, is in attack. The 3-4-1-2 allows Didier Deschamps to line up a triangle point, and not just any: Benzema and Mbappé are assisted by Griezmann in support.
Lack of practice
Finally, to return to the line of three, the coach of the Blues felt that the presence of Raphaël Varane as central defender was essential. First, because he vaguely had the opportunity to hold this place at Real Madrid and two, because he is the natural leader of the French defense. “He’s got the experience, and it’s easier to guide others by being in that axial position. “
Despite everything and despite all this theoretical knowledge, France still lacks practice in this scheme which seems to us to be the right one in relation to the workforce available to Deschamps. Hugo Lloris, who preceded Deschamps in the conference on the eve of the League of Nations final, was fatalistic on this subject. “Only the sequence can allow us to adapt to it. There may not be enough matches and training in Blues to perfect all this. But we use games to improve as a team. “Hoping that France will make further progress on Sunday at San Siro.