Paris (AFP)

Qualified for the Euro-2020, the French team has seven months of work to "stay at the top", between staff to fine, offensive animation to find, and, Sunday in Albania, first place group to ensure for hope for a more favorable draw.

"It's hard to stay at the top, it's going to be our challenge for the next few months," Guy Stéphan, an assistant to coach Didier Deschamps, told AFP in an interview.

The task is matched by the talent of the world champions, who won their ticket without shining for the next Euro (12 June-12 July) Thursday after a sad victory against Moldova (2-1). In short, the qualification is acquired but work sites remain.

- A group to tweak -

Of the 23 world champions present at the time of the epic in Russia, they will be a priori many to double World-Euro, Deschamps having maintained its confidence with its executives.

Hugo Lloris, Raphael Varane, Benjamin Pavard, Lucas Hernandez, N'Golo Kanté, Paul Pogba, Blaise Matuidi, Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappé ... Hard to imagine the boss of the Blues happen in June of these nine holders of the World Cup they are fit. "We have a group with a lot of resources," says AFP Guy Stéphan.

If Deschamps' deputy does not see "wear and tear" in the Blues, it is perhaps thanks to the review of staff already started throughout the qualifying course.

Thus, Kingsley Coman has turned into an almost indisputable offensive holder, Wissam Ben Yedder proved that it was a credible lining in tip, Lucas Digne has taken his quarters in selection and Moussa Sissoko chained the rallies regularly.

Clement Lenglet, despite a rough mistake on Thursday, has eclipsed Samuel Umtiti of the team-type.

However, there are still cases to be decided. Those of the long-wounded first, like Lloris, Pogba, Hernandez even Umtiti: will they finish with the glitches? There is the situation of the declining pillars: Will Giroud have recovered club play time? And the question of young shoots with long teeth, like Tanguy Ndombélé, Jonathan Ikoné or Mattéo Guendouzi.

- An animation to perfect -

More complex site: that of the offensive animation. The Blues remain in effect on three disappointing meetings (1-0 in Iceland, 1-1 against Turkey, 2-1 against Moldova), where the lack of efficiency has jumped to the eyes. Where the Portuguese or the English, two rivals for the Euro, offered far wider rides (6-0 against Lithuania, 7-0 against Montenegro) ...

Thursday, however, Deschamps had initially launched a quartet very promising, with Mbappé, Coman, Giroud and Griezmann.

"These are four offensive players, but it's not because we have a lot of offensive players that we're going to create more chances." The four in front, we hardly found them other than ballooning. In comparison to what they are capable of doing, I can not accept that, even I am obliged, "pleaded the coach," hard "with the players at halftime.

In the last three games, no goal has come from the game: all were scored on penalty or stopped phase. And the usual leader of attack Antoine Griezmann remains on seven matches in a row without scoring, his worst series in Blue ...

- A first place to keep -

But "before thinking about the Euro, because of what is waiting for us on November 30 draw, it would be good if we finish first," warns the Basque technician.

Leading group H thanks to the misstep of Turkey against Iceland (0-0), the Blues do not "spit" on this situation, according to Deschamps: by winning Sunday in Albania, the first place would be assured.

The complex formula of the draw of the competition is based mainly on the results of the qualifications. A first group place ensures a presence in one of the first two hats, and therefore a draw a priori more favorable. Finishing second may result in a demotion in the third or even the fourth and last pot.

"We are very happy, we are qualified, Olivier Giroud believes, but we will be more when we have this first place."

© 2019 AFP