A truncated table

The September gathering was to serve as a dress rehearsal before the World Cup (November 20 to December 18), but the scope of the lessons was largely reduced by the cascade of absences.

"The important thing is to be able to recover all our strength for in two months," summed up coach Didier Deschamps on Sunday.

As a goalkeeper, for example, the French played three-quarters of their internship with N.3 Alphonse Areola, propelled into the cage after Hugo Lloris' package and then Mike Maignan's injury against Austria (2 -0).

The mechanics of the "pistons" Kingsley Coman and Theo Hernandez could not be oiled either in the absence of the two corridor players, and the defense was orphaned by Presnel Kimpembe and Lucas Hernandez.

In the middle, the world champion pair Paul Pogba-N'Golo Kanté also missed the last meeting before Doha, where Pogba, engaged in a long convalescence and disturbed by extra-sporting problems, is not sure to go.

An irregularity to erase

A convincing title in the League of Nations in the fall of 2021, a disastrous month of June and a comeback in chiaroscuro … For a year, the Blues have been struggling to find continuity in their performances.

After a string of seven wins between September 2021 and March 2022, France has a much less rosy record of one win, two draws and three losses.

"The irregularity? Frankly, I can't explain it yet," noted midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni.

"There are no excuses. We haven't been able to follow up yet, so for sure we will have to do better at the World Cup".

Even the new Real player, one of the few to have shown consistency in selection in recent months, suffered Sunday evening in Copenhagen, a sign that Deschamps is moving forward without certainty to Doha.

But "we have the group and the coach to aim very high", swept away Antoine Griezmann, for whom the defeat in Denmark "does good" by pricking the Blues to the quick.

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A few linings that ensure

The rain of packages led to the first summons of five new ones: Alban Lafont, Adrien Trufert, Benoît Badiashile, Youssouf Fofana and Randal Kolo Muani.

The Monegasques Badiashile and Fofana probably scored the most points, with considerable playing time and a fairly noticeable serenity.

For the former, however, the road to the World Cup remains clouded by the likely return of Kimpembe and Hernandez.

As for Fofana, he sowed promising seeds alongside Tchouaméni, his former sidekick in Monaco, apparently passing in the hierarchy ahead of Mattéo Guendouzi and Jordan Veretout.

missed opportunities

At 19, Eduardo Camavinga had been waiting for two years for a return to selection.

But the former Rennais was disillusioned on Sunday, showing himself to be too brittle against the athletic Danish midfielders and the inspired Christian Eriksen.

Replaced at halftime, the Real Madrid player lost big points for the World Cup.

"+ Cama + was not in the best of moods, that can happen too. It's been a long time since he's been with us, now he's starting the match. It wasn't the only one either and it will be useful for him for the future, as for others", pointed out Deschamps after the meeting.

Other World Cup hopefuls may have vanished into the skies of Copenhagen.

Overtaken in marking and in duels, Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba will have to work hard to be on the list.

For the Bayern Munich player, this is not the first disappointment in the blue jersey.

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As for Randal Kolo Muani, Christopher Nkunku, and Adrien Truffert, their playing time was too limited for them to show themselves.

They too will have to cross their fingers to see Doha.

© 2022 AFP