Monaco (AFP)

Despite some class gestures, the Marseillais Florian Thauvin and the Monegasque Wissam Ben Yedder, who are aiming for a place in Blue at the Euro this summer, had little influence on the match won on Saturday night by the players of the Principality (3-1) .

Didier Deschamps followed with attention the meeting between ASM and OM, two clubs whose teams he managed.

Not out of nostalgia, but to follow the evolution of certain internationals, current or potential, less than six months from the start of the Euro.

Gradually, the coach of the France team refined his choices.

And every game becomes important.

He ogled with a little more acuity Ben Yedder and Thauvin, still in the race for a place among the 23 Blues.

The first, whose last selection dates back to November 11 against Finland (0-2), before the Covid-19 forces him to shorten his internship, leaves with a lead over the 2018 world champion. Both do not evolve in the same offensive position, but neither of the two really dominated his subject during this poster.

Without having missed their match, the two men did not mark the spirits.

Thauvin started the best.

At the heart of an emerging controversy during the week, against the backdrop of a duel of egos with Dimitri Payet, the former Bastiais was established by André Villas-Boas.

Then replaced by ... Payet in the 68th.

In the meantime, he offered some quality crosses (3rd and 57th), some dribbling over his direct opponent, Caio Henrique (8th).

Even if he worked well defensively, even if he showed his willingness to serve the collective, Thauvin weighed too little on the Monegasque defense.

And his statistics (6 goals and 7 assists in L1 this season) have logically not changed.

-WBY stumbles on Mandanda-

Worse, Thauvin gradually died out, until its logical replacement.

Selected for the last time in Blue on June 11, 2019 (4-0, in Andorra), he is still very far from a comeback.

Opposite, captain Ben Yedder also declined over the match.

While his trainer Niko Kovac praises his defensive involvement, the top scorer of the last French championship still spent a meeting without scoring.

Still, he had two great opportunities.

On the first, he was preceded by central defender Alvaro on a center set back perfectly from Ruben Aguilar (42nd).

He moaned about it.

As after the break, by the way ...

Served in depth, he then missed his face-to-face with Steve Mandanda, author of a very high level parade (50th).

The score was then 1-1.

And it was again on a corner, as on the first goal, and without him being involved, that Monaco scored.

As against Angers, it is even his replacement, Stevan Jovetic who scored the third Monegasque goal (90th + 1).

Fortunately for him, WBY (9 goals and 4 assists this season) has a technical profile that Deschamps likes.

And his ability to be very fair in the small areas (29th and 34th) gives him real credit.

But it is shrinking ...

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