League of Nations: Blues still no attack

Was it the particular security context, the absences of Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, the low interest in a competition, the League of Nations, which interests no one, or the pitiful draw (0-0) achieved by does the Blues face Israel at the Stade de France, this Thursday, November 14, reflect a more serious offensive problem? For the fourth time this year, the French team ended a match with a goalless draw. A recurring ineffectiveness since the Euro in June, but this time against a team ranked 81^e position in the FIFA ranking, which no longer allows for doubts. The only good news is the point gleaned, synonymous with qualification for the quarter-finals which will take place in March.

Faced with a compact opposing defense positioned very low, the French had control of the match with 70% possession of the ball but were unable to use this advantage to shake the nets. The lack of atmosphere in an almost empty stadium (16,611 spectators for 80,000 seats, the lowest attendance in the history of the Blues in the Saint-Denis enclosure), transformed into a bunker, did not helped to galvanize the players who must have thought they were in training given the lack of rhythm they put into the match.

Lack of rhythm, approximations, slowness…

« There’s frustration, anger, a bit of everything… We didn’t have a good match at all », recognized Jules Koundé at the microphone of TF1. As for the qualification, he was also lucid: “ I don’t know if we should be happy about it after this match… » Questioned immediately by the first channel, his teammate Ibrahima Konaté did not say anything else. “ It’s a huge disappointment. We dominated, we had a lot of opportunities to win the match, underlined the defender. We don’t lose and we are qualified, but we shouldn’t be proud of that. »

Beyond the lack of commitment of the Blues, which gave the impression that they were playing in slow motion, their technical level, not worthy of internationals, did not help with many errors and approximations which wasted several opportunities. As usual the attackers lacked realism in front of goal, rarely targeting their 22 shots. Once again midfielder Michael Olise was too timid and Bradley Barcola, top scorer in Ligue 1 with PSG (10 goals), was well muzzled. As for Randal Kolo Muani, who has been on a roll lately with the Blues despite his replacement status in Paris, he has been almost non-existent. The Blues could even have conceded a goal from one of the rare Israeli incursions but defender Raz Shlomo was fortunately unable to regain the ball in front of Mike Maignan following an eccentric free kick (37th).

Kylian Mbappé is “ in a complicated situation »

After a failed first half, like the whole team, which was obviously not sensitive to Didier Deschamps’ speech in the locker room at the break, Eduardo Camavinga tried his luck twice on long shots (54th, 64th) without worrying the goalkeeper. Warren Zaire-Emery (76th) then Christopher Nkunku (90th + 6) also had a match point, but the lack of speed and their stereotyped, easily readable game did not make the difference. “ We are not going to find extenuating circumstances. We could have done more against an opponent in a low block who was gaining time. We had the opportunities and chances to score. The goalkeeper made some good saves too. (…) We lacked realism. Qualification was the least of things », Analyzed Didier Deschamps, displaying the look of bad days.

A match which will not help the Blues restore their image during a year 2024 where insipid matches accumulate. The absence of Ousmane Dembélé (injured) and Kylian Mbappé, not retained by the coach due to his current poor form and to avoid the fire of questions while he accumulates setbacks (financial conflict with PSG, laborious integration at Real Madrid and accusations of rape emanating from the Swedish press), certainly weighed a little in the result of the match. But it is a safe bet that their chronic lack of efficiency in the blue jersey this year would have continued if they had set foot on the Dyonisian lawn.

Concerning the non-selection of Kylian Mbappé, Didier Deschamps said a little more on the microphone of TF1 in front of the 1998 world champion, Bixente Lizarazu, and the journalist Thomas Mekhiche, after the match. “ Are you getting back to me? He’s not here, so I’ll tell you what I said before: leave him alone, the coach replied with annoyance. Sometimes it’s good not to say too much. There is no sanction. It’s factual. He is in a complicated situation, I am behind him. He is going through what is not the happiest period of his career. Despite everything, he wanted to come. I think it’s better for him right now. »

Objective first place in the group

The France team now has an appointment with Italy, Monday November 18, for the last day of the group stage of the League of Nations. In Milan, the French (10 points) will have to bring home a victory by at least two goals, if they want to finish at the top of group 2, ahead of Squadra Azzurra (13 points). In a competition that no one dreams of, neither the supporters nor the players, it is not so much for a question of prestige but because this first place allows you to meet a second group in the quarter-final and above all to receive at return match.

Facing the Italians on an upward curve, after their elimination by Switzerland (2-0) in the round of 16 of Euro 2024 while they were reigning European champions, it will not be easy. As a reminder, the Transalpins won easily at the Parc des Princes (1-3) last September and they won (0-1) in Belgium this Thursday. It would therefore take more than a start from the Blues to create a surprise.