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It’s a subject that occupied Luis Enrique’s mind for many months last season and that Didier Deschamps is also unable to decide clearly. How Kylian Mbappé can be used against Belgium to meet two imperatives: highlight him as best as possible, but also remain coherent on the defensive level.
There are three solutions, mentioned by l’Equipe or le Parisien this Friday. The first: return to the 4-3-3 Qatar version, with Mbappé on the left side, possibly alternating with Marcus Thuram for defensive work, and Rabiot to cover the corridor. A system that did not really convince at the start of the competition. Another idea, leave Mbappé in the axis and keep Barcola on the left in this 4-3-3, which would nevertheless force Deschamps to sacrifice his number nines (Thuram and Giroud) and seems above all too offensive for the coach of the Blues at the time of the knockout matches.
A 4-4-2 with the Mbappé-Griezmann duo?
So the asymmetrical 4-4-2 option remains, the one that worked wonders at the 2018 World Cup. Rabiot on the left, Tchouaméni – Kanté in the centre and a right winger (Dembélé or another), to guarantee more defensive certainties. The problem is that this leads to a fairly new attacking duo Griezmann – Mbappé, while Grizi has not really convinced in such an advanced position for Les Bleus recently. Deschamps only has three days left to solve this sacred puzzle.
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To sum up
For his composition against Belgium, the coach of the France team Didier Deschamps is above all faced with a problem with Kylian Mbappé. How can you best highlight it without threatening the balance of your team?
