Saint-Denis (AFP)
Intrepid and balanced so far, the recent pair of Blues defensive Raphaël Varane - Clément Lenglet suddenly appeared unequal Thursday against Moldova (2-1): the Madrid, scorer, has proved that he was one step ahead of the Barcelona, guilty of rare errors.
Faced with the 175th world nation, the public would probably have preferred to debate the explosions of lightning Kylian Mbappé or the inspirations of Antoine Griezmann, rather than the assurance of the central hinge of the world champions.
But nevertheless, it is well on the side of the defense that one observed the most striking imbalance Thursday at the Stade de France, between a captain, Varane, with the airs of boss, and a newcomer, Lenglet, much more imprecise.
If the goal of the head of Varane (35th), his fifth achievement in 63 games in Blue, confirms once again the significant contribution of the Madrilenian defensively as on the stopped offensive phases, the misunderstanding of his partner early in the game with the goalkeeper Steve Mandanda, who brings the opening of the Moldovan score (9th), surprises.
How could a player so posed and precise usually be able to tangle the brushes twice by taking this long Moldovan balloon of the head, without real intention nor authority? How could the FC Barcelona defender get "moved" by Vadim Rata, a modest Chindia Targoviste striker in the Romanian first division?
- In search of "lived together" -
The deconcentration, perhaps, for a player still new to the French team - he was celebrating Thursday that his sixth selection - and unaccustomed to confrontations as unbalanced club. The lack of rhythm, too, for the former Nancéien who had been left at rest this weekend in club, for the benefit of his competitor at the Blaugranas as in Blue Samuel Umtiti.
Even more simply the profile of Barcelona, often considered more adept anticipation, finesse, than the duel and physical hardness. "I also like being in the duel, I'm not necessarily the type of defenseman who gets into the duels all the time, but I do not mind getting in. It's something I'm able to to do, "he said yet last October in a press conference, full of confidence and serenity.
Until Thursday, the 24-year-old had justified his words: the serenity, he sweated at each of his appearances in the selection, what give confidence to the coach Didier Deschamps, who had not hesitated to let Umtiti, his champion of the world, even going so far as to make Lenglet one of his spokespersons by sending him twice in two months to confront the press at the beginning of the meeting (other cadors, like Griezmann or Giroud, stayed warm).
At Saint-Denis, serenity was for Varane. The former Lensois, captain for the 15th time, was sharp where Lenglet was friable, authoritarian where his partner lacked flair, decisive positively where his friend was negatively. The contrast in the duels has jumped to the eyes.
"Gradually we have more and more landmarks, it's experience, living together, each time we have ever more precise, more complementary movements", dared the Madrilenian in October, questioned about his relationship with Lenglet. A month later, he assured even have made much progress since his debut in Bleu last June, alongside his eldest.
The tandem takes a shot at the most unexpected moment. A welcome signal, seven months from the Euro, for a hinge far from flawless.
© 2019 AFP