a victory in Italy for the Blues, just to end an eventful 2024

For its last match of the year 2024, the France team won this Sunday in Italy for the last day of the group stage of the League of Nations (1-3) and concludes a year 2024 where the absence of play was in the spotlight, as was non-sporting news.

The Blues end the year on a good note. Three days after an indigestible performance at home against Israel, the French team rectified the situation in Milan against Italy (1-3) to complete a group stage of the League of Nations where all the emotions were in the spotlight.

Accustomed to providing messy copies on the latest outings, the Tricolores received a good mention for this last match of the year. In the wake of a Lucas Digne of great evenings, the French made the Italians bend on set pieces. On two pancakes from the Aston Villa defender – also author of a magnificent free kick – Adrien Rabiot planted a double with a header, allowing the two players to ideally celebrate their 50th selection. The pressing was also effective, even if the waste in front of the goal did not completely disappear.

If all the blue ailments have not completely disappeared in one evening – Cambiaso took advantage of this – the French team carried out the good operation by finishing at the top of its League of Nations group and can consider the quarter-finals with more lightness. final in March, with the return match at home avoiding the scarecrows that could be Portugal, Spain or Germany. A relief felt at the final whistle.

50% wins

In terms of results, the year 2024 will have been mixed for the Blues. Semi-finalists of the Euro against Spain, Didier Deschamps' men qualified for the quarter-finals of the League of Nations after a controlled, if not flamboyant, group stage. In 16 matches, France has eight wins, five draws and three defeats (22 goals scored, 12 conceded). Often criticized, Randal Kolo Muani finished top scorer with six goals, far ahead of Mbappé, with only two goals.

Beyond the checkered results, the level of play displayed by the Blues worries and attracts criticism, as evidenced by the four 0-0s this year (Canada, Netherlands, Portugal, Israel). With 1.27 goals scored per match on average this year (not counting the match against Italy), the Blues have the worst total since 2010. According to statistics collected by L'Équipe, the France team has not only 4.7 shots per match on average in 2024. Another figure symbolizing the lack of efficiency: the Blues scored 3.4 fewer goals compared to expected goals. Enough to attract mockery and a certain disenchantment from their own supporters. “We’re getting ch***ed, we’re getting ch***ed,” French fans intoned Thursday against Israel.

Didier Deschamps challenged

The poverty of the game offered by the Blues put Didier Deschamps in an uncomfortable position. If it was extended until 2026, the French coach has never been so much at the heart of the cyclone since his arrival in 2012. Especially since after a successful Euro on paper – less in the content – the technician had announced his desire to “re-oxygenate” the group during the six Nations League matches with a view to qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

Thus, “DD” has launched several new faces into the deep end. Manu Koné, Bradley Barcola and Michael Olise had mixed starts, while Lucas Chevalier and Loïc Badé received their first call-up without having had the pleasure of wearing the blue jersey.

The Griezmann tremor

Didier Deschamps also had to resolve to end the year 2024 without his “darling” Antoine Griezmann, who to everyone's surprise announced his international retirement at the end of September, after more than 10 years in the Rooster jersey, 137 caps, 44 goals, 30 assists and a world champion title in 2018. A decision taken after several tormented months in the Blues jersey, including a frustrating Euro which he finished coming off the bench and big questions about his positioning. But the Atlético de Madrid player was especially marked by the decision not to inherit the armband after the international retirement of Hugo Lloris.

The Mbappé question

Without his vice-captain, Deschamps experienced some turmoil with his captain, who had a frustrating 2024. After a disappointing Euro (one goal in five games), the Real Madrid striker missed the last two rallies and his last outing with the tricolor jersey dates back to September 9 against Belgium, where he came on as a substitute. French number 10 especially made a lot of talk about him after his trip to Stockholm. Swedish justice has confirmed the filing of a complaint for rape in the hotel in which the French international stayed on the night of October 10 to 11 in the Swedish capital.

Not summoned by Didier Deschamps for the last rally of the year, Kylian Mbappé was nevertheless the subject of several questions addressed to the coach and his teammates during the various press conferences. Enough to annoy Didier Deschamps. “You want to remind me? He's not here, so I'll tell you what I've already said. Leave him alone,” he said after the match against Israel. “He's in a complicated situation , I am behind him. He is going through the period which is not the happiest of his career. Despite everything, he wanted to come. I think it is better for him at the moment (not to hold him back). Everyone has the right to have a complicated period. There is the physical aspect, the psychological aspect too. There are always interpretations, whether I speak or not. to weigh my words.” Without its captain, the French team tried to save a very complicated year. With the desire to show better things in 2025.