The qualifying campaigns, "it's always a long road, sometimes perilous. The main thing is to be there", warned Didier Deschamps on Friday, inviting his players to "not relax in relation to (their) goal".
The coach knows that the Blues have never been far from the misstep in recent months.
The surprise elimination in the eighth of the Euro against Switzerland on penalties (3-3, 5-4 tab) or the sluggish draws in September against Bosnia and Ukraine (1-1) are there for the recall.
At the top of Group D with 12 points, France is nevertheless on a very favorable waiver: Ukraine, second with 9 points, has only one game to play against two to the French.
As for Finland (3rd, 8 pts), it must negotiate on Saturday (3:00 p.m.) a complicated trip to Bosnia (4th, 7 pts) before receiving the Blues on Tuesday in Helsinki at the end of qualifying.
A draw between Bosnians and Finns in the afternoon would arrange Hugo Lloris and his partners, who would then need only one point against the Kazakhstanis to go and defend their world title in Qatar (21 November - 18 December 2022 ).
Football: France - Kazakhstan Vincent LEFAI AFP
But "we must finish the job," insists deputy Guy Stéphan to AFP.
Memories
The coaching of the world champions is not particularly superstitious, but he knows the context surrounding the meeting.
The Parc des Princes, exceptionally preferred to the Stade de France because of work in public transport, revives the memory of the qualifications for the Mondial-1994, concluded by the Bleus de Deschamps, player, with two surprise defeats in the same stadium, against Israel and Bulgaria, in an almost identical accounting situation.
"It remains a painful memory in the history of the France team, but other important matches have been won since," said captain Hugo Lloris, urging his teammates to "pack the match as soon as possible".
The players of the France team before the kick-off of their last match played at the Parc des Princes against Australia on October 11, 2013 LIONEL BONAVENTURE AFP / Archives
The date, six years to the day after the jihadist attacks of 2015, an evening of France-Germany in Saint-Denis, adds to the symbolism of this evening, while the trial of the attacks of "November 13" is currently being held before the special court of assizes of Paris.
A minute of silence in tribute to the victims will also be respected before the match and the Blues will wear a special armband for the occasion, in a stadium that will be full.
On the ground, the concerns born at the Euro were partly erased in October by the French coronation in the League of Nations, at the expense of Belgium (3-2) and Spain (2-1).
Who to support Kanté?
The Habs therefore arrive with renewed confidence and a stabilized group, only disturbed by the injury absences of Presnel Kimpembe, Raphaël Varane and Paul Pogba.
Karim Benzema, preserved until Thursday, "will be available" according to Deschamps.
The Madrilenian is therefore hoped for in the starting XI with his friends Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappé.
The uncertainties mainly concern the midfielder - Adrien Rabiot or Aurélien Tchouaméni to support N'Golo Kanté?
-, and the identity of the players who will make up the new defensive scheme of the Blues, with three central backs.
Dayot Upamecano and Kurt Zouma are fighting for a place alongside Lucas Hernandez and Jules Koundé, while Theo Hernandez is the favorite to lead the left wing.
On the right, will "DD" give way to the temptation to launch winger Kingsley Coman in place of the more defensive side Benjamin Pavard?
"It's an option," he said on Friday.
Antoine Griezmann, Lucas Hernandez and Léo Dubois in training for the France team on November 11, 2021 at Clairefontaine FRANCK FIFE AFP / Archives
Opposite, the 125th world nation, beaten 2-0 in the first leg in Central Asia, has some arguments: "It is a very generous team in the effort, very united, with a lot of density", explained to the 'AFP Guy Stéphan, emphasizing "the mental qualities" of the opponent.
Will these be enough to push back the hopes of qualifying for the Blues?
© 2021 AFP