Les Bleus miss their return, should we be worried?
Didier Deschamps' French team had a date with Italy this Friday evening at the Parc des Princes for their first Nations League match, a bland but obligatory competition... And not everything went as planned. Analysis and recap.
Are Les Bleus satisfied? We would be right to think so after the lackluster performance of the French football team against Italy (1-3). Facing a team that has been struggling for years, even if the squadra azzura won Euro 2021, Didier Deschamps' men wanted to start again strong, after failure in the semi-finals of Euro 2024.
Right from the start, they took advantage of a poor Italian pass back to open the scoring. Exactly after 12 seconds! Bradley Barcola rides on his fantastic last few months to allow his team to take the lead. Unfortunately, it was the one and only successful pressing of the French team this evening…
If the match couldn't have started better, the supporters were eager to see the new system and Didier Deschamps' tries. Jonathan Clauss on the right and Théo Hernandez on the left, two attacking full-backs, not in the coach's habits. A central defense William Saliba-Ibrahima Konaté, abandoned, impossible to hold it against them. A two-man midfield, N'Golo Kanté and Youssouf Fofana, far from being imperial. Three attacking elements: Bradley Barcola, Antoine Griezmann and the new nugget Michael Olise. To support Kylian Mbappé up front.
Faced with a decent opposition, without being brilliant, which notably included the return from long-term suspension of Sandro Tonali, France quickly took on water.
Jonathan Clauss has sunk, while the Italian wings are not really their strong point. N'Golo Kanté has been a shadow of himself, while Youssouf Fofana is clearly at fault for Italy's third goal. Highlighting Kylian Mbappé's qualities by leaving him in the opposing funnel, alone up front, remains a question mark. And a challenge.
Up front, if Michael Olise has incredible talent and a real touch on the ball, his relationship with Kylian Mbappé has not been obvious. And the Real Madrid striker, in a centre-forward role, remains an enigma.
The introduction of Manu Koné, also a newcomer, Marcus Thuram, Ousmane Dembélé or Warren Zaïre-Emery did not change the situation. Unable to defend together as a block, the Blues were pierced too often.
If she couldn't do much about it Di Marco's fantastic equaliser, after a splendid one-two with Tonali, the team showed no tactical adaptation to the evening's problems. And a crazy inability to transcend itself to get back on track.
Is it a physical problem, since the season has only just started again? We know the importance of the optimal physical level of the Blues in their good results.
Coming soon on Interview, the reactions of Didier Deschamps and several players.
