Life without Adrien Rabiot has already been a reality for Les Bleus since the start of preparations for the Euro, as the Juventus Turin midfielder missed the two friendlies against Luxembourg (3-0, June 5) and Canada (0-0, June 9). Hampered by muscle fatigue and a calf injury, he was unable to start the competition in optimal conditions and had to leave his place in the 71st minute against Austria (1-0).
Starting on the left of the asymmetrical 4-4-2 against the Netherlands (0-0), he has since found his relay position but he will lose it for the quarter-finals: at the mercy of a suspension, he was cautioned on Monday after contact with Jérémy Doku (24th) and he can blame Glenn Nyberg, because the foul was anything but obvious. “I am disgusted to be suspended, he sighed. The referee was quite severe, he had a little moment of absence, that’s how it is. But guys are going to do the job, there are people on the bench. »
Griezmann or Camavinga a pole
To replace him without touching the 4-3-3, the answer could also come from another starter because Antoine Griezmann, lined up on the right of the attack on Monday, has an opportunity to regain his role as a relay player for the 2022 World Cup, which he played against Austria (1-0). If the Madrid player continues to play higher, Didier Deschamps will have to turn to another midfielder and Eduardo Camavinga is the one who has the most playing time coming off the bench (19 minutes against Austria, 29 against Poland).
Having only appeared for ten minutes, Youssouf Fofana seems to be starting from further back, especially since Deschamps could also opt for a double pivot with Aurélien Tchouaméni and N’Golo Kanté, behind a line of three attacking midfielders where Griezmann could be refocused. The possibilities are open but one thing is certain: we will still have to be careful with yellow cards because they are only cancelled after the quarter-finals, and Griezmann, Tchouaméni, Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappé are still under threat.
