With France not at their best offensively, Didier Deschamps could opt for an experimental 4-4-2 diamond against Belgium. A new system that does not make the crowds dream.
Often skilled at adapting tactically, Didier Deschamps is a little dry in this Euro 2024. The coach of the French team is struggling to find the ideal eleven to chain successes, having changed many players in groups without winning more than one encounter. If the French defense is solid, the attack is at half mast despite big names lined up: Kylian Mbappé, Marcus Thuram, Antoine Griezmann and Bradley Barcola. The French team only scored 2 goals and none in the game. Before a perilous round of 16 against Belgium, Deschamps must resolve this efficiency problem or risk early elimination. According to l’Equipe, Deschamps is thinking about changing his tactical system.
France in 4-4-2 diamond, guaranteed flop!
Instead of his usual 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1, the French coach would favor a 4-4-2 diamond against Belgium. Behind a Thuram-Mbappé duo, Rabiot would play on the left with Griezmann at number 10, Kanté on the right and Tchouaméni at 6. Enough to put Thuram in the best conditions, he who plays alongside Lautaro Martinez at Inter. However, this find by Deschamps is not unanimous as shown by L’Equipe du soir. Dave Appadoo and Sébastien Tarrago in particular do not appreciate Deschamps using an improvised system. They called upon the past and Euro 2021 where Deschamps had opted for a three-man defense against Switzerland, which had caused a very bad start and ultimately the French elimination.
Above all, Dave Appadoo is doubtful about the use of full-backs in this system. Without Ousmane Dembélé starting, they would be forced to be more offensive and that does not fit with the profile of Jules Koundé for example. At the end of the traditional duel of the show, viewers adhered to this negative vision. Indeed, 63% of them expressed themselves against the use of the 4-4-2 diamond, preferring to see Olivier Giroud starting instead of Thuram according to the comments on of Deschamps who would be singled out in the event of elimination with this 4-4-2 diamond.
