Didier Deschamps can say whatever he wants. That he is not disappointed after the football slush we saw on Tuesday evening. Better, he is even satisfied with the production of his men against a Poland beaten twice before playing the Blues and already eliminated before the third match. Whatever the coach says, we are entitled to think the opposite.
Unable to beat an average selection, the France team offered content far from expectations and the excitement aroused by the intense fight against the Netherlands (0-0) last Friday. Worse, after Poland, we even wonder if the Blues have not regressed.
The defensive solidity is there, around Mike Maignan, but what about the animation of the game? In Dortmund, it was nothing, with few passing circuits, little doubling or even collective action that we had seen against the Oranje. Almost no presence in the area with a specialist in the position, despite the crosses coming from the sides.
This is another factor to take into account for Didier Deschamps. The Blues coach must deal with two players under threat of suspension for the round of 16 of the Euro during the French team's third group match against Poland this Tuesday (6 p.m.). These are Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé.
The two friends, teammates at PSG this season before the departure of the first for Real Madrid, both received a first warning in the competition against Austria (1-0) at the opening of the tournament. In the event of a second yellow card in three matches, they will both be suspended for a potential round of 16, as required by the regulations. So pay attention to the slightest actions made by the two men in front of the Italian Marco Guida, referee of the match.
Kylian Mbappé will be even more closely watched as he is announced as returning to the starting lineup, masked after his nose injury against Austria. The star of the France team will have to lead the Blues to victory and above all to first place in group D, to open up the table a little more for the rest of the competition.
Ousmane Dembélé could start the match on the bench after two somewhat lackluster first matches on the right side. To replace him, Kingsley Coman, despite minor muscular problems, has a slight lead over Randal Kolo Muani, very popular with the coach.
- Kanté will not discover his talents as a playmaker at 33.
