In a neutral atmosphere and a heavy context, a young French team challenges Israel in the League of Nations.
If the Blues left the gray of Paris for the Hungarian sun and the gentleness of the Danube on Wednesday, they must expect to feel a form of indifference on Thursday evening when they enter the pitch at the Bozsik Aréna. Some 2,000 spectators expected for the match against Israel (8:45 p.m.), counting for the 3e day of the League of Nations. We have experienced a more fiery context to accompany the vice-world champions, who are starting a new era after the surprise international retirement of Antoine Griezmann and the notable package of Kylian Mbappé.
The Blues must (really) become aware of this. To interest and seduce the public who will have the idea of being in front of their television, it will be necessary to show something other than this boring Euro and a not really exciting return to school (defeat against Italy, 1-3, then victory against Belgium , 2-0). After exciting Olympic Games for an entire nation and often spectacular Champions League matches, the partners of neo-captain Aurélien Tchouaméni have the mission to reveal a sexier face even if the second-rate poster does not make anyone dream in a geopolitical context heavy.
New leaders are sought
Confront, on neutral ground, the 79e world nation, more preoccupied by the war in the Middle East, could nevertheless appear as the ideal match to gain confidence and break this beginning of monotony which surrounds the selection. With a young group (24 years old and 18.2 caps on average, unheard of since March 2013), where Ousmane Dembélé and Alphonse Areola are the only two survivors of 2018, the new era is complete. That’s good, Didier Deschamps loves it. Reshape a group into a war machine. The only difference is that he can no longer count on his usual lieutenants. New leaders are sought. A locker room balance needs to be found. The blue house is almost starting from scratch with the 2026 World Cup in mind.
Without their brain, Griezmann, it will be interesting to see the ability of the Blues to get out of their comfort zone, to bring this creativity, this nerve, this inspiration that no one has seen at the Euro. « A golden generation has done a lot for the Blues, a new generation is emerging, it’s oursadmits Tchouaméni. We have to win, we have to win titles and we have to write history in our turn. » The time to show its teeth has come from a generation that must assert itself.
