Strasbourg (AFP)

The return of the Blues was to serve to remove the memory of the failed Euro, but the performance against Bosnia and Herzegovina (1-1) on Wednesday was a reminder of the evils of June: feverish defense, physical problems in shovel, including that of Kylian Mbappé, package, and perfectible offensive animation.

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Crumbly defense, problem on the right

Positioning sometimes a little loose, ball losses or mistakes near the surface, missed technical gestures ... The French rearguard has not always shown great serenity for the comeback, facing the partners of the formidable Edin Dzeko.

This is the fourth game in a row where the Blues concede at least one goal, after a series of five inviolability matches.

Anecdote or revealing of the lost solidity, the France team conceded the opening of the score for the fourth time in a row, a first in the mandate of Didier Deschamps started in 2012.

The joy of the striker of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Edin Dzeko, after opening the scoring against France, during the qualifying match for the World Cup-2022 in Qatar, on September 1, 2021 in Strasbourg FRANCK FIFE AFP

In defense of the coach, he was deprived in September of his two full-backs, Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernandez.

In the absence of the first, the right lane was occupied Wednesday by Jules Koundé, central defender at Sevilla FC.

His expulsion from Bosnia forced Deschamps to urgently summon Nordi Mukiele (23), RB Leipzig defender never called up until then.

In the group, Léo Dubois was the only right-back by trade.

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Disette Mbappé, "perfectible" trio

The attacking trio Griezmann / Mbappé / Benzema were to march on Europe, but nothing goes as planned.

Deschamps recognized it Wednesday in a euphemism, their association "can always be improved".

French strikers Karim Benzema, Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappé, warming up before the match against Bosnia-Herzegovina, qualifier for the World Cup-2022 in Qatar, on September 1, 2021 at La Meinau Stadium in Strasbourg FRANCK FIFE AFP

So successful in club, despite the turmoil surrounding his false start at Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappé did not present himself in his best light at the Meinau.

The Bosnian defenders were not disturbed by his dribbles or his acceleration and, when he failed them, the post repelled his shot or the referee denied him a penalty.

Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Branimir Cipetic wrestles with French striker Kylian Mbappé during the qualifying match for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar on September 1, 2021 in Strasbourg FRANCK FIFE AFP

He even finished the match injured in the right calf and the exams passed Thursday convinced the management of the Blues to leave him at the disposal of PSG for the end of the rally.

It has now been six matches, including the Euro, that he has not scored a single goal.

And with this package for the next two meetings, Mbappé will have missed ten international matches in two years due to injury, illness or Covid-19, out of the 26 disputed by the French world champions.

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Cascade of injuries

After the injuries of the Euro (Digne, L. Hernandez, O. Dembélé), place for the unavailability of September.

Lucas Hernandez still lacking rhythm, Benjamin Pavard and Marcus Thuram injured, Dayot Upamecano called and then finally left at the disposal of his club after medical diagnosis ... Each day of the rally was marked by a new setback.

On Wednesday, Corentin Tolisso left the selection after a muscle injury to a calf, and Deschamps also had to resolve to release N'Golo Kanté, although he knew he had hit an ankle for several days.

Paradoxically, he replaced the Chelsea midfielder with ... Adrien Rabiot, whom he thought unavailable!

French midfielder N'Golo Kanté, next to assistant coach Guy Stephan, before the round of 16 of Euro 2020 against Switzerland, June 28, 2021 in Bucharest FRANCK FIFE POOL / AFP / Archives

"I had traded with him before the list, he had not played for two or three weeks, he was not expected to resume (in club) this weekend. If I had known beforehand that 'he would play, he would have been in the initial list,' explained Deschamps.

Ultimate tile, Thursday: after feeling a "pain in the right calf" Wednesday, Kylian Mbappé had to leave the group ...

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Choices don't pay

Faced with these contingencies, Deschamps tries to cope tactically, but few choices have proven to be winners.

After the catastrophic transition to a three-way defense in 8th at the Euro, the return to a line of four did not prevent the Blues from conceding the opener on Wednesday.

Offensively, the substitutes for the Benzema-Mbappé-Griezmann trio did not take advantage of their meager playing time: Kingsley Coman and Anthony Martial, in particular, have only crumbs to share.

© 2021 AFP