In Vienna, the week was rainy and the Blues took on water.

Apathetic on the goal of Andreas Weimann (37th) and rarely authoritarian during the meeting, the tricolor defenders showed feverishness during a third game in a row in the League of Nations.

Austrian striker Andreas Weimann (2nd d), congratulated by his teammates, after opening the scoring against France, during their Nations League match, June 10, 2022 at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna FRANCK FIFE AFP

The alignment errors of Theo Hernandez in the opening against Denmark (1-2) and the lack of concentration of Jonathan Clauss, at fault in Croatia on Monday evening (1-1) to offer a penalty to the "Vatreni", succeeded Friday a blatant passivity against the Austrians.

The Blues even came very close to the correctional, on a final counter-attack, very dangerous but very badly negotiated by Karim Onisiwo in added time.

Admittedly, the rearguard lined up by coach Didier Deschamps on the damaged lawn of the Ernst-Happel Stadion was unprecedented, with a total of six selections in the central hinge - five for William Saliba, the first for Ibrahima Konaté - and a left side - Theo Hernandez - who had never played in this system with the Blues.

Goals conceded 8 times out of 12

Admittedly, Lucas Hernandez, tipped to start in defense but caught up with muscle pain before the game, had to give up his place in extremis to Saliba.

Admittedly, the defensive leader Raphaël Varane had to forfeit during the rally.

Admittedly, the French did not concede a lot of clear chances to the partners of David Alaba.

But the score played by the tricolor defenders on Friday remains at odds with their rank of world champions, far from the solid and impenetrable image conveyed by the Blues during their world title in 2018 and in the months that followed.

This season, France have conceded at least one goal in eight of their twelve games.

And if she has sometimes managed to reverse the trend, as during the Final 4 of the League of Nations in October against Belgium (3-2) and Spain (2-1), her attack is not as flamboyant in the month of June.

"When there are goals conceded, there are things that we must do better in the alignment and the management of depth. We did not do it well, it needs to be worked on", warned Deschamps already before the match against Croatia.

Coach Didier Deschamps, after the draw (1-1) conceded against Austria, during their Nations League match, June 10 at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna FRANCK FIFE AFP

A few days later, despite two different tactical schemes in three matches, there is still a lot of work.

For his first, Konaté showed flaws in the recovery, and his passive behavior on the goal had something to question.

Austrian striker Andreas Weimann tries to control the ball under pressure from French defender Ibrahima Konaté during their Nations League match on June 10, 2022 at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna FRANCK FIFE AFP

Used in the three games, Saliba sometimes struggles in marking and this was the case on Friday in front of striker Weimann.

"Win Differently"

As for Theo Hernandez, used until then as a side player in a five-defender system, his replacement as a left-back has made his defensive shortcomings more glaring and dangerous, between unnecessary risk-taking and questionable placement.

The only satisfaction of the evening was Benjamin Pavard, rather comfortable and serene on his right flank... A position which, again, is not preferential for the Bayern Munich player, to whom Deschamps nevertheless promised a centre-back role.

French defender Benjamin Pavard, author of a shot which will be deflected by Austrian goalkeeper Patrick Pentz, during their Nations League match on June 10, 2022 at the Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna Joe Klamar AFP

Presnel Kimpembe, solid in Croatia then spared in Austria, seems for his part to have scored points.

But the debate is likely to stretch during the off-season, before the World Cup.

How to find the balance?

Captain Hugo Lloris, regularly questioned on the subject, already has an idea.

"Sometimes you may have to know how to close the game, as we were able to do in the past, where, by playing perhaps a little less well, we were able to win in a slightly different way", said insisted the Tottenham goalkeeper on Thursday, annoyed by the breaches in his defense.

Captain and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris comforts striker Karim Benzema after France's 1-1 draw with Austria in their Nations League match on June 10, 2022 at Ernst Happel Stadium in Vienna FRANCK FIFE AFP

Win without shining, rather than shine without winning?

The recipe is well known by Deschamps.

It's up to the Blues to start applying it again.

© 2022 AFP