DECRYPTION – Find out what pleased… and what less pleased our special correspondent in Milan, Sunday, for Italy-France.
FAVORITE
A team victory… and a seminal match?
We were going to see what we were going to see in Lombardy. The fall and decline of the French team. Or the start of a group deprived of its captain (Mbappé) and vice-captain (Tchouaméni). After 90 minutes of a big fight and a real football match, the Blues delivered a scathing response. Solid, authoritarian, united and guided by the desire to bring down an Italian selection undefeated since the start of the school year in September, Ibrahima Konaté's partners signed a founding match (3-1 victory). This says nothing about what will happen in the future, but the bases are there, immutable, marked by Deschamps, namely a team block, a warrior's state of mind and a surgical finish. We must return to offensive animation, a major project for 2025.
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The notes of the Blues in Italy: Rabiot and Digne as hitmen, “Magic” Maignan, Thuram as tough guys
San Siro, temple of a crazy atmosphere
For all football fans, you have to come to San Siro at least once in your life. Thrills guaranteed. Whether it's seeing this majestic vessel as soon as you arrive at the stadium or attending an Italian match, or one of the two Milan clubs, you will get your money's worth. Sunday evening, this impressive temple perfectly fulfilled its role in the fight between Italians and French. It was the scene of a crazy and joyful atmosphere, with an Italian anthem taken up by 68,000 spectators in a trance, and encouragement heard for a good part of the match despite an unfavorable scenario for the locals. At certain moments, we also felt the stands moving in response to the jumping of the public. Not necessarily reassuring, but certainly unique.
Worthy the magician
He returned to the French team in the middle of the fall without having participated in the Euro, ahead of Ferland Mendy, but Lucas Digne never gives up. With two assists for Rabiot and above all a sumptuous free kick (attributed to goalkeeper Vicario against his camp), the side could not better celebrate his 50th selection. But let's come back to his fabulous gesture. At 25 meters, he is in balance with Nkunku to try his luck. Koundé comes to see the two men. Worthy does not disassemble. He blows. Gain momentum. And finds the top corner with a free kick from the left that Lionel Messi would not have denied. Great art.
SEE ALSO – Lucas Digne after Italy-France on Sunday (1-3): “Surely a reference match for us»
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CLAW STRIKES
Offensive animation, the big project
Three goals from set pieces, but no clear chances. The Blues were surgical on Sunday evening in Lombardy. To disgust Italy with what has been its strength for so many years. Which is tasty, it must be admitted. If the French team put out a big collective match, as mentioned above, it can only progress in terms of offensive animation. The Nkunku-Thuram-Kolo Muani trio did not carry enough weight in the last 25 Italian meters, even if they were not unworthy in their role of harassment and their availability. In the end, Vicario, apart from the three goals, was never used. It's too little. Didier Deschamps knows what he has to work on, with the probable return of Mbappé next year.
Also read
Italy-France: Winners in Milan, the Blues were (very) great
Barcola, the catastrophic entry
Coming into play 15 minutes from the end of the match, to take advantage of the spaces left by the Italian defense, the Parisian did everything you should not do. Failed checks, poorly negotiated races and an unwelcome lack of enthusiasm… A real nightmare, especially in this sequence where he has the possibility of making the difference three times at the halfway line in one minute, without ever choosing the good option. It's never easy to appear in this type of encounter during a match, with extreme tension, but he had room to do much better.
