Gyor (Hungary) (AFP)
Qualified on March 31 for a match scheduled for May 31: The France Espoirs team has fulfilled its first mission in Hungary, reaching the final phase of the Euro, but must tackle several projects before the quarter-final against the Netherlands.
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A standardized selection
For years, the Espoirs selection has been one of disappointed expectations, uncontrolled slippages, impossible eliminations and improbable casseroles, from the Le Havre getaway of Mvila, Ben Yedder or Griezmann to the unwelcome rooming of Kurzawa against Sweden.
With Ripoll, the Bleuets played a Euro semi-final in 2019 in Italy, qualified for the Olympics and therefore took their ticket for the quarter-finals this year.
The Espoirs have therefore become a high-level team again, but the stunning potential of the current generation invites us to ask for more than the simply correct record of this first phase concluded with two logical victories against Russia and Iceland (2-0 each time) but tarnished by the initial defeat against Denmark (1-0).
"I retain the qualification. We knew that it would be very difficult. We saw selections (England) with great players eliminated. We wanted to be in the quarterfinals and the objective is reached," said captain Matteo Guendouzi to the French media present in Hungary, including AFP.
"We are a magnificent generation, with very great players in every position and even on the bench. We really have a very great team but we know that you have to put a lot of commitment and intensity into everything" added the former Arsenal midfielder, still convinced that his team "can do something very big".
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Koundé and Edouard, sure values
The first phase confirmed what was obvious when reading the list of selected players: in the middle and especially behind, the pool of Hopes is immense and of a very high level.
Disappointing in the first match, players of the caliber of Fofana (Leicester) or Kamara (Marseille) no longer set foot on the ground and those who replaced them, Dagba and Tchouaméni, performed very well.
In goals, Lafont was reassuring and decisive against the Russians, while in attack, Edouard, top scorer in the history of the Espoirs (17 goals in 13 matches) scored twice.
"He is the scorer in all his glory. He doesn't have much to eat but he is able to be effective on two balls lying around. It makes him a rather rare scorer," a summary the coach Sylvain Ripoll, who still regretted the absence of Diaby (Covid), whose speed was lacking.
Behind, the options seem endless but Koundé stood out, by his technical ease, his speed, his reading of the game and his personality.
If Didier Deschamps does not need him in the A, he will be a valuable boss in May.
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Camavinga, a blow for nothing?
He was the attraction and he was a bit disappointing.
Holder and lost against Denmark, coming into play moderately against Russia then with more edge against Iceland, Camavinga was not very convincing.
"The record is average, necessarily," admitted Ripoll.
"But that doesn't change his talent and his potential. He's a very, very young player, who set the bar very, very high, very early on. With his talent and his state of mind, he didn't. there is no reason to worry, "said the coach.
It must now look into the sequel, with a list for the final phase which is unlikely to be identical to that of March.
"The cut will induce performances which will vary. There will unfortunately be players who will no longer be available because of injuries, he admitted. There is a chance that things will change."
© 2021 AFP