DTwelve seconds to say that the French team is off to a good start in the 2024-2026 season… but the rest of the meeting, on Friday 6 September, is a day of disappointment. The defeat against Italy (1-3) put Bradley Barcola’s early goal in the ranking of records without much importance.
We must avoid jumping to conclusions about a resumption of the match, with mixed forms, uncertain motivations, forced substitutions and a stake as low as that of the Nations League, a substitute for the competition, especially dedicated to offering posters to replace friendly matches.
the operation of “reoxygenation”The term coach Didier Deschamps has repeatedly used in recent weeks has certainly become a suffocation. But the moment is more for tests aimed at giving time to elements of the future than for the search for lasting collective certainties.
However, the concern is first and foremost about the surprising continuity with Euro 2024, which is particularly frustrating due to the Blues’ offensive inefficiency. Especially since this time they were unable to create chances and regain the defensive solidity shown during the tournament in Germany.
Technical and “political” challenge
For several years now, the commonly accepted theory has been that the French team is destined to occupy a dominant position on the international scene thanks to a constantly renewed group of high-level players. However, this guarantee can only be maintained if transitions within the workforce are guaranteed and the collective mood is preserved.
If we attribute to Didier Deschamps this ability to manage his group and his individuals, the challenge, both technical and “political” of his mission, is no less arduous. Especially at a time when the conductor Antoine Griezmann (33) no longer knows what score to play and the captain Kylian Mbappé is going through a crisis of confidence unprecedented in his career.
The fact that it was goalkeeper Mike Maignan who launched into a rant in the silent dressing room at the Parc des Princes in Paris after the defeat by Italy suggests a fragility in the internal balance. If he does not score, Kylian Mbappé becomes useless in the game, he ends up posing problems as much tactical as diplomatic, and his profile as a leader raises legitimate doubts.
The debate over his positioning on the axis is reminiscent of those who marked Thierry Henry’s career in blue: a star sometimes imposes himself in the position he prefers (not necessarily the one in which he is best), even if that means altering the position of collective expression.
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