At the Vélodrome stadium,
The results of these two friendly matches of the French team, a clear defeat against Germany (2-0) on Friday, and a sluggish victory against Chile on Tuesday (3-2), would worry any coach unless three months of Euro 2024. Not Didier Deschamps.
Quite simply because he knows himself and his group like the back of his hand, and knows that some of his men have played greatly diminished. Like the quick injury exits of Jonathan Clauss and Eduardo Camavinga, from the first period. “It’s linked to the level of form which is not optimal in terms of energy, with a lot of little problems for everyone”, he justified after already having to deal with the package of Griezmann.
“A gathering more difficult than the previous ones”
Injured people on one side, and players with the handbrake on the other. Because of the “deadlines” and these two matches interspersed before the final straight of the various championships, the quarter-finals of the European Cups and Euro 2024 in their sights. “I understand that they have that in their heads with what lies behind such important issues. It’s not that they don’t want to, but they manage so as not to take any risks. When you are in this state of mind and what’s more you see the two injured,” Didier Deschamps even admitted.
As a result, the Blues conceded two goals for the third time in a row after Greece (2-2) and Germany, with a goal once again conceded at the start of the match (6th). And a second at the very end of the game (82nd) just to play at scaring each other. To the point of seeing Deschamps and the Blues come out of “a March rally more difficult than the previous ones”.
Kolo Muani one of the “additional answers”
Fortunately, Randal Kolo Muani was fresher than his teammates, and especially had a lot to prove in this last match before the list. And he gave the Blues the advantage after one of their only highlights in the first half (25th), initiated a few minutes earlier by Fofana’s deflected shot (19th). The striker lacking playing time at PSG was then at the origin of the victorious goal, serving Giroud on a plate after having mystified at least three defenders on his right side (72nd). “Kolo had freshness and this quality of speed, of percussion. He scores a nice goal with a header. Bravo to Kolo, I’m happy for him, that he was able to play this match and score. He did everything necessary,” said the coach.
One of the “additional responses” that this spring gathering will at least have had the merit of providing Didier Deschamps and certainly “no uncertainty”. By starting 18 of his 20 outfield players in these two matches, DD and his staff are continuing their inventory in order to be “always in anticipation”.
With the month of June and Euro 2024 in mind, for which it will be necessary to have “freshness” and above all “to do a lot more”, he nevertheless warned. History of perpetuating this tradition of being completely broken up in friendly matches to almost never stop winning during these famous “deadlines” so dear, and so many times repeated on Tuesday evening. That of Lewandowski’s Poland was in any case added to the DD list after its qualification in group D of the Blues, the Netherlands and Austria. An affordable first round which should see the Blues slowly gain strength, before the tactical adjustment which will change and allow the French team to go to the end or not far, as usual?