Without shining and in pain, France extinguishes Belgium

Special correspondent in Düsseldorf

7:53 p.m. on the pitch at the Düsseldorf Arena. Kylian Mbappé has taken off his mask, the Blues form a single line in front of the 8,000 supporters, Antoine Griezmann falls into the arms of Adrien Rabiot, while Didier Deschamps does not benefit from the communion, already taken up with media obligations. The French team suffered, was not a pretty sight to watch, still suffers from its lack of efficiency, but had the courage and strength to eliminate a weak Belgium (1-0) to validate its place in the quarter-finals of the Euro. Portugal or Slovenia, who face each other at 9 p.m., will appear in Hamburg on Friday against the Blues. The adventure continues for the French. And that is probably the main thing. The whole thing can be improved, the flaws are known to all, the room for improvement is enormous, but France is still alive in this competition. Much more will have to be done to believe in the coronation on July 14. The road is still (very) long for the hard-working vice-world champions, but Deschamps affirms it: “you have to savor, not trivialize. We’re on shift, they’re going home, these are good habits”.

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A despicable first act

Since Tuesday evening and the rather bland match against Poland (1-1), the Blues who appeared at the press conference – there were not many of them – during the week have not stopped highlighting the group’s ability to react and its state of mind. Because “a new competition” is beginning. Forget the bitter and worrying first round. Make way for answers and a form of clarity. As a result, during the first forty-five minutes in Düsseldorf, the crowd was bored stiff. The reason? A match without flavor, without rhythm and without intensity. Far from what we had seen in the first 8^es of final.

The “find” Griezmann right winger

With a new playing system put in place (4-3-3 with Mbappé on the left and Thuram in the center), and in particular Antoine Griezmann in the role of winger (3^e positioning in 3 matches at the Euro for the vice-captain) who sticks to the line – incomprehensible given his qualities – Didier Deschamps, once again, innovated on Monday evening. For a ignoble first act despite a few opportunities from Thuram (34^e) or even Tchouaméni (39^e45^e) against a listless and no more attractive Belgium (9 shots to 1). Between the Blues with a readable game and waiting for a brilliant move from their captain (not in his legs) and the Red Devils fearful of the idea of ​​exposing themselves, the spectacle was painful to watch at this stage of the competition.

Two sick selections

At the start of the week, the question arose in Paderborn as to which of the two selections, between France and Belgium, was the sickest… This was verified during this round of 16, with teams playing with the brakes by hand, tense, not at all liberated and in search of a vanishing confidence. With minimal risk, for a real game of chess. And deep boredom. Examples ? Griezmann totally lost on his right side and not knowing what to do. Thuram missing in front. Mbappé readable without ever asking for the ball in depth. And a French midfielder (too) academic. No better among our Belgian neighbors with De Bruyne blunt and long balls easy to decipher on Lukaku. To get your teeth into, an acceleration from Mbappé (54^e), a heroic return from Hernandez (60^e), a strike (on target) from Lukaku (68^e) and De Bruyne (82^e) and saved by a decisive Maignan, others from Saliba (74^e) and Mbappé (78^e), not framed. Not enough to raise the curtain either…

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Kolo Muani, savior of the nation

With only one change on the clock (Kolo Muani for Thuram in the 61st minute)^e) operated by Didier Deschamps, we saw the French and Belgians heading gently towards an extension. The first of these round of 16. But on a placed attack, initiated by Hernandez, with the relay of Mbappé, then Griezmann, Koundé and Kanté, the latter found Kolo Muani, who unleashed a strike by going around the veteran Vertonghen who deflected the ball and surprised Casteels (1-0, 85^e). Unexpected. On his bench, the Blues coach, with an angry fist, congratulates the savior Maignan, decisive just before on De Bruyne, aware of having missed the correctional point. On the other side of the field, Kolo Muani, congratulated by his partners, can appreciate his new savior costume (5^e goal in 20 selections), he the unfortunate hero of a final action in the World Cup final in Qatar still in everyone’s minds. On his own. The beauty of football. From pariah to hero, there is only one step… The adventure continues for the French team. It is not always pretty to see, but qualification is there. Tuesday morning, the Belgians would dream of being in our place.