Saint-Denis (AFP)
The Blues receive Croatia on Tuesday (8.45 p.m.), two years after the final of the 2018 World Cup, but the reunion will be distorted by the closed session, the package of Kylian Mbappé and the turnover imposed by the hellish pace of the recovery.
Three days after its uninspiring victory at Solna (1-0) against Sweden, the France team is advancing towards the first shock of its League of Nations group, in Saint-Denis against the dominated vice-champions of the world 4-2 in July 2018 in Moscow.
This meeting should have been synonymous with revenge, spectacle and celebration two years after the coronation in Russia, it will not be: the health crisis has excluded all spectators from the stadiums and the fearful silence of the closed door reigns on football Europe.
"We do not take this match as a rematch," insisted captain Hugo Lloris, also admitting that without an audience, "there is still a lack of adrenaline".
The coronavirus pandemic has also exhausted the organizations of players who finished their championships in July or the Champions League in August, upsetting the very model of the summer truce as we had known it until then.
- Without Mbappé, Rakitic and Modric -
And she invited herself at the last minute with the positive test for Covid-19 of Kylian Mbappé, one of the French heroes of the World Cup final, forfeit after having nevertheless participated in the training the day before the match on Monday evening.
In the opposite camp, the Croats will also appear without their aging but irreplaceable midfielder duo Luka Modric-Ivan Rakitic, left to rest by coach Zlatko Dalic.
Totally overwhelmed on Saturday night in Portugal for their entry into the running in this competition which replaces the traditional autumn friendly matches (4-1), the World Cup finalists are struggling.
It was "a painful defeat" but "deserved", "it looked like Portugal were playing with 15 players," Dalic commented on Monday, predicting "an even more difficult match" against the Blues and their "incredible players".
"France is a football powerhouse, without a doubt, and it doesn't matter what the competition is whether it's friendly or not. They have 40 or 50 top players and you don't know where the danger may come from," he also said. Ivan Perisic.
But, added the Bayern Munich winger, "the two teams are not 100% and we have to give our all because we are playing for Croatia and we are World Cup finalists".
The French however seem better armed, despite a very lackluster performance in Sweden, only lit by a beautiful inspiration from Mbappé and the incessant activity of N'Golo Kanté.
But their lack of breath and legs forced coach Didier Deschamps to spare the body.
"I will have to make a lot of changes," said the Basque on Monday.
"It may go against cohesion and automatisms but I think I have no choice," he had already noted on Saturday.
- New attack duo?
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In view of the last training Monday evening, the coach should line up an unprecedented attack with Wissam Ben Yedder and Anthony Martial and offer a second selection in a row to Dayot Upamecano in central defense, alongside Lucas Hernandez and Clément Lenglet.
Other expected changes: Adrien Rabiot should leave his place in midfield to Steven Nzonzi, chosen to pair up with Kanté.
Tottenham midfielder Moussa Sissoko and Real Madrid defender Ferland Mendy have left to occupy the sides.
Finally, Deschamps should allow Eduardo Camavinga, Rennes midfielder of 17 years and 9 months, to honor a first selection for the France team.
"I have no objection to his having playing time, he is there," Deschamps slipped on Monday.
"That he could know his first selection, it would be good for him".
In case of appearance Tuesday on the lawn of the Stade de France, Camavinga would become the first post-war player to don the blue jersey before his majority.
© 2020 AFP