The months of June have never been very promising for the Blues of Didier Deschamps, out of competition, but this last gathering of the 2021-22 season, finished under the whistles of the Stade de France, will still remain one of the most worrying.

With two draws (1-1 in Croatia and Austria) and two defeats at home (2-1 against Denmark), in a group initially considered affordable, the results are rather alarming, one year after a bitter failure at the Euro and five months before going to defend a world star in Qatar.

Exhausted by their season, disturbed by injuries and destabilized by tactical tests, the Blues never found the second wind they needed to garner confidence before the summer break.

This time, fatigue and physical glitches can no longer be put forward as explanations by coach Didier Deschamps, who risks thinking for a long time during the summer, after the first defeat in the history of the Blues against Croatia.

Risk of relegation

He only has two matches left before the World Cup, at the end of September, and these will be escorted by the fear of an unworthy relegation to the second division of the League of Nations.

Because with two points in four matches, France can not only dream of the "Final 4", left behind by Denmark (9 pts), but it will also have to fight to avoid a last place which would deprive it of the status of seeded for qualifying for Euro-2024.

Blues goalkeeper Mike Maignan concedes a goal on a penalty converted by Croatian Luka Modric at the Stade de France, June 13, 2022 FRANCK FIFE AFP

Just before the offseason, Deschamps had nevertheless chosen to give his two star strikers, Mbappé and Benzema, one last chance to shine, even though the first was "not 100%" while the second was coming out of tenure. in Austria (1-1).

Madrid's 90 minutes of play in Vienna on Friday were felt three days later at the Stade de France: the Ballon d'Or favorite appeared borrowed, a little less sharp than usual, and we had to wait the 54th minute to see him finally slalom into the opposing area.

Inevitably, the game has therefore clearly leaned towards Mbappé, back in the starting lineup after having treated discomfort in his left knee for ten days.

End of series

"Kyky" certainly carried the danger on many occasions (7th, 55th, 61st), but he was systematically blocked by goalkeeper Ivica Ivusic, in the sighs of the 77,400 spectators of the Stade de France, already disappointed ten days earlier against in Denmark (1-2).

Against the Danes, the Blues had cracked at the end of the game.

This time, they sank from the first minutes, frustrated by a slight tripping of the novice Ibrahima Konaté (2 selections), on Ante Budimir.

The penalty was transformed by the inevitable Luka Modric (5th), enraging Mike Maignan, already beaten on this exercise during the first leg in Split (1-1) a week earlier.

The doorman N.2 of the Blues, impeccable by the way, will have been unhappy during this gathering, where he will have garnered more playing time than in the last 18 months, crossed out by the holder and captain Hugo Lloris.

The captain of the Blues Presnel Kimpembé exchanges with the Israeli referee Orel Grinfeld about a whistled penalty for Croatia at the Stade de France, June 13, 2022 Franck FIFE AFP

The Blues have conceded at least one goal in nine of their thirteen games this season.

And for the first time in 24 matches, they failed to find the fault either, ending a record streak.

This weariness was also reflected on the lawn, with a chopped match, numerous faults and several altercations which reminded us that the two teams do not play this League of Nations with relaxation.

From now on, it is towards the World Cup that all eyes are turned, worried …

© 2022 AFP