The relief was palpable in the French camp, Sunday in Milan, after the great success achieved at the expense of the Italians (3-1), synonymous with first place in group 2 in the League of Nations. The explosion of joy from the staff at the final whistle and the satisfied look of Didier Deschamps in front of the media clearly reflected the stakes of the match for the coach, even if qualification for the quarter-finals was already assured.
Three days after a pitiful draw in Saint-Denis against the modest Israelis (0-0), in a security context that is certainly particularly tense and in a three-quarters empty Stade de France, the 2022 world vice-champions and their boss played big. But the prestigious victory gleaned at San Siro has the merit of temporarily chasing away the big clouds that were hovering above their heads and allowing the year to end on a positive note.
After a disappointing German Euro 2024 despite reaching the semi-finals, Deschamps, who saw his tactical choices strongly contested, remained straight in his boots. “You can say and write whatever you want, it’s part of lifehe declared to journalists at a press conference. I have elements, I am internal, I set objectives. I know there are very high demands and expectations. The players respond with a younger group. These six matches (in the League of Nations) should be used for this. »
You can say and write whatever you want, it's part of life…
To ward off the specter of a decline in power after twelve years at the head of the Blues, the 56-year-old technician had immediately warned that this ordeal, which neither the players nor the supporters dream of, must above all serve to “oxygenate” his group before switching in 2025 to the qualifications for the 2026 World Cup. Despite a catastrophic start at the Parc des Princes in front of Italy (1-3), on September 6, which could have sunk him, the Bayonnais ultimately succeeded in his opening enterprise.
The attack, eternal construction site
Kouadio Emmanuel “Manu” Koné and Mattéo Guendouzi in the middle, Christopher Nkunku in front, Lucas Digne behind: several took the opportunity to score serious points for the coming months. “It will complicate my choices for the future but it’s a very good thing to play these very big matches like against an Italian team which has a lot of qualities”explained the coach.
Everything is not perfect, however, and if the Basque had the satisfaction of seeing his formation reconnect with its DNA, namely a big block in defense and in the midfield, he has still not overcome his main project that is offensive animation. The European Championship, where France scored only one goal in the game, highlighted serious deficiencies in attack. The group stage of the Nations League did not really resolve this major creativity problem. On Sunday, if the Blues finally showed themselves to be efficient on set pieces, the elements supposed to score hardly created any chances.
The setbacks of Kylian Mbappé (failed continental tournament, financial conflict with PSG, laborious integration into Real Madrid, accusations of rape emanating from the Swedish press), absent from the last two gatherings, and the sudden international retirement of Antoine Griezmann are necessarily very severe disabilities. And if the French want to continue their journey beyond the quarter-finals, scheduled for March 2025, and above all shine at the next World Cup, they will have to make up for this deficit as quickly as possible. Which inevitably involves a return to the forefront of their superstar.
“Leave him alone. I am convinced that he will regain all his means”launched Deschamps. A way to put an end to worries and put off the big, annoying subject until later.
France
