After three group matches, it is difficult this morning to know what these Blues are worth, really strong against Austria (1-0) and the Netherlands (0-0) but not very exciting and ineffective offensively, and slowed down for this reason against Poland (1-1). But they will start as favorites against a Belgium which is no longer that of the 2018 World Cup (1-0 in the semi-final) nor of the 2021 Nations League (3-2 in the semi-final). Insurance has changed sides. When French captain Kylian Mbappé, even with a broken nose, displayed his smile and ease at a press conference this Sunday evening, Belgian midfielder Orel Mangala and his coach Domenico Tedesco kept a low profile.
“France is often in the best positions, was world champion, was in the final not long ago. It’s a team that knows this kind of challenge,” said the Olympique Lyonnais player, one of the new faces of the Red Devils heckled by their public after a lackluster first round against Slovakia (0-1), Romania (2-0) and Ukraine (0-0). “You will need to have several plans in mind and the ability to adapt. Our mission is to raise our level. The key will be not to be nervous, to be courageous and above all to start this match believing in it,” continued the coach, noting that the past was still in the back of his players’ minds.
Shared inefficiency
His current concern, after 13 wins and just one defeat in his first 17 games on the bench, is the same as Didier Deschamps’ and his 156 games in the position: how to make the number of converted chances correspond a little more to the offensive armada at his disposal, without breaking the balance. “There is no doubt but there is an awareness. Not finishing first has concerned a lot of people,” said Kylian Mbappé.
“There is no doubt but there is awareness. Not finishing first challenged »
In the stadium where he thought his competition was going to end on June 17, the French captain spoke for the first time since, recounting “his two nights of sleeping badly”, “all his meetings”, the difficulty “of being on the bench against the Netherlands without being able to help”, the multiple fittings of protective masks “which hinder vision, retain sweat”. He does not want to “look for excuses”, but is both a reason and a solution to tricolor sterility.
The choice of seat
Faithful to his principles, Didier Deschamps, who says he has learned from his previous eleven “what not to do” during decisive matches, should favor his quest for a solid base with the maintenance of a three-man midfielder Kanté – Tchouaméni – Rabiot. In the expected 4-4-2 with Antoine Griezmann as free playmaker, Mbappé will have a team that will work for him, or almost, Marcus Thuram to fix and the “former” Belgian defender Vertonghen to martyr. Sufficient ? In the worst case scenario, Didier Deschamps will have enough assets on the bench to try to force the door.
“Mbappé will have a team that will work for him and Vertonghen to martyr”
