Holidays are over, it’s time to go back to school. Or, football version, stop at open doors, return to basics. The first match of the Blues post-crash of the Euro could be synonymous with rupture, this evening in Strasbourg.
Not really at the group level, which has changed little with four new ones but still eight absent compared to the previous list. Nor with regard to the staff, renewed despite this pitiful elimination from the knockout stages against Switzerland (3-3, 4-5 in the tabs). No, it is especially in terms of playing philosophy that Didier Deschamps’ team should experience a real shift.
The coach had hinted at it in his long interview with The team published August 20. When asked what he lacked in his Blues compared to the 2018 World Cup, he replied “defensive strength”. Before applying a layer: “I wanted us to try to be a little more shiny knowing that we were going to be less solid. On arrival, it is perhaps better a little less shiny, but more solid. »It surely avoids taking 6 goals in 4 games, that is to say as much as in 7 games three years earlier in Russia …
“I’m waiting for the team to master as much as possible”
Tuesday, at a pre-match press conference, the technician still distilled a few messages in this direction. Like when he said “wait[re] that the team masters as much as possible ”. “The high level is to put the opponent in difficulty. But when you don’t have the ball, you have to be efficient and solid ”, also recalled“ DD ”, without obviously communicating your starting system.
It is not risky to write that it will not be with a five-a-side defense against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the framework of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup. The test, largely missed against Switzerland, had been abandoned at half-time. No, the Blues should come back to four behind and, regardless of the tactical scheme, try to find a lost balance this summer. The one who had brought him so much success.
“Me, it suited me perfectly what we saw before this Euro. We felt that nothing could happen to this team where everyone attacked and defended, “reacts the former coach of hopes or Montpellier René Girard. “There was a whole hoopla around the fact that it was not sparkling enough but how can you criticize a world champion team? The important thing is balance and animation. I’m not worried: Didier knows how to do it. He has already reacted and will react. “
“Let everyone bring their share of the work”
How? ‘Or’ What ? Perhaps first by asking for more efforts from the trio in front of Mbappé-Benzema-Griezmann at the loss of the ball. The latter already does the job very well, sometimes too much, when the second does not balk, in a style different from Giroud. It is above all the behavior of the Parisian, often singled out for his lack of enthusiasm at the loss of the ball, which will be monitored. “Everyone must contribute their share of the work,” Girard insists on this subject, without attacking anyone by name.
The solution to this renewal may also come by redensifying the environment, deprived of Rabiot (injured) for these three games in September. Tolisso has the qualities to accompany the Pogba-Kanté duo, which has shown its limits when it is not helped by a third man. All the more so when the tireless Chelsea player is just tired.
Finally, and this is not a detail, Deschamps will be able to rely on regulars at the position of left side (Digne and T. Hernandez), where he had to tinker with the Euro because of injuries. “With also a Pavard in half-tone, the framework had been heckled and that did not allow to shine collectively”, resitates the coach champion of France 2012. “We have seen the result … Now, we must return to our bases and regain this solidity. The holidays are over, it’s time to go back to school.