This should ease the pressure, at least for a few weeks, on the French team. The latter, disappointing at the Euros despite their passage to the semi-finals, unrecognisable against Italy in the return match (1-3) on Friday, had suffered in recent weeks from comparisons with the performances of the tricolour athletes at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, including Thierry Henry’s Bleuets, silver medallists.
Thanks to a 2-0 victory against Belgium on Monday 9 September in Décines-Charpieu (Rhône), the Blues regained their credibility in the eyes of the public at the Groupama stadium. The match had not even started when it seemed that the game was already over: when the team’s composition was announced, several players were booed, as was Didier Deschamps. A rare event, almost unprecedented, in the coach’s twelve years in charge.
“Honestly, I didn’t listen. I have no problem with that, although I knew he didn’t have many die-hard supporters in Lyon, for different reasons.”He put the Basque player into perspective after the match. In March, before the friendly match lost against Germany (0-2) at the same Groupama Stadium, his name had not been booed and this evolution reveals the deterioration of the bond between the French team and its public, the former not being able to make the latter jubilant for several months.
Despite the emerging rebellion, Didier Deschamps “did not change course” for this second match back to school against Belgium. At the start, the coach had changed almost his entire starting lineup, leaving Kylian Mbappé and Antoine Griezmann on the bench, giving playing time to a newcomer (Manu Koné) and to the returning players (Lucas Digne, Mattéo Guendouzi). “reoxygenation”act II.
The ‘Bleus’ react as a team
Against Italy, this plan failed and France was outclassed. After the first twenty minutes against the Red Devils, the public could have feared a similar result. “Maybe it was related to a bit of enthusiasm between us, maybe in relation to the context”Didier Deschamps explained. Once the legs stopped shaking, Les Bleus collectively dominated Belgium, as in this unique environment, with N’Golo Kanté and Mattéo Guendouzi, partnered by Koné.
“We were keen to make amends for our poor performance. After Italy, we weren’t necessarily worried, but frustrated. We had to do some self-criticism.”Jules Koundé stressed after the victory. The French team, which was very attractive in several offensive sequences – as at the start of the Euros – had to take advantage of its opportunities, which was the main criticism levelled at it during the continental competition.
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