The post-World Cup euphoria suddenly ended in the cold of Rotterdam last night, where the Blues were unable to compete with enthusiastic Dutch (2-0). Without a super Lloris, the only high-performance player, the score would have been much heavier. Cracking shortcomings that raise some questions for the future.
This is not the prospect of missing the Final Four of June that must be feared this morning. After all, this mini-tournament bringing together the four best teams of the League of Nations, competition created by UEFA to spice up the international periods hollow, is not the line that will be looked at first on the CV of a champion .
No. What is challenging is especially the indigence of the French service in Rotterdam on Friday night. Without aggression, without ideas, without binding and without reaction, weak individually and collectively, eaten in the middle of the field, the Blues were lugged by the rising Dutch youth, Depay and De Jong in the lead, who can consider the following - and especially the perspective of Euro 2020 - with a legitimate appetite.
Since France - Spain in March 2017, where the Tricolores had been roughed in the wide widths by the Roja at the Stade de France (2-0), Didier Deschamps had not seen the troop suffer as much football a adversary and give such a feeling of helplessness.
Should we be worried?
++ See also: League of Nations. Netherlands - France: Hugo Lloris captain abandoned, the notes of the Blues
The question then arises. Should we worry for the future? No, if you consider that the world champions have the right to miss a match, facing a good opponent, in an international period (November) never obvious to manage. Neither, if one notes the absences in the Netherlands of Umtiti, Hernandez and especially Pogba, three pillars of the Blues in Russia last summer.
But this implies that their substitutes last night (Kimpembe, Digne and Nzonzi) did not have a sufficient level. Neither have they been helped by others, Mbappé in the lead, annoying when he does not make the effort to defend and who will have to assume his superstar status closely watched by all his opponents. It is also worth wondering about the ominous performances of certain holders at the World Cup, starting with Pavard, who has chained disappointments in club and blue jersey since this summer. Until when ?
Competition to reshuffle cards
++ See also: League of Nations. Netherlands - France: Top, Flop and Match Rating
Meanwhile the result of Germany - Netherlands Monday night, the Blues have a weekend to look at the slap of Rotterdam. Say things, study what did not work and consider bouncing Tuesday, during the friendly against Uruguay at the Stade de France.
World champions deserve to finish their year on a happy note. They will then be able to switch to a year in 2019 where many construction sites are waiting for them, starting with the injection of new blood by Didier Deschamps and the idea of a little more competition, essential conditions to change the team of France. in the right direction.