Curses vanquished

The fall of the last world champions (Italy, Spain and Germany), all of whom fell in the first round of the following World Cup, did not catch up with the Blues, often questioned on the question.

"It shows that sometimes you say a lot of things that don't come true," Kinglsey Coman said on Saturday after the victory against Denmark (2-1).

"Soon, I'm going to have to thank everyone who told me about it! You fell back on your feet," Didier Deschamps also joked to journalists on Saturday.

Group D teams, standings and fixtures in the group stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup AFP

The French have also overcome the curse of the injured which has hit them for several months (Pogba, Kanté ...), and more recently (Nkunku, Benzema, Lucas Hernandez), to become the first nation to qualify in the 8th.

The infirmary even emptied with the return of Raphaël Varane, a month after his thigh injury.

Type team found

After two matches, Deschamps may be holding his standard team, or almost, as at the 2018 World Cup.

Dayot Upamecano took the place of left central defender left by Presnel Kimpembe, package in Qatar, alongside Ibrahima Konaté against Australia (4-1) and Varane against Denmark.

Formerly less efficient than at Bayern, Upamecano gives its full potential: "He lacked this awareness of the France group", summarized Varane on Saturday, but now "we feel that he is expressing himself and is starting to really flourish".

"I feel much better and it works for us," confirmed "Upa".

French defender Dayot Upamecano and Danish striker Martin Braithwaite during the World Cup match between their two selections, November 26, 2022 Anne-Christine POUJOULAT AFP

There were also doubts about Ousmane Dembélé's ability to replicate his Barca performances, but the winger cleared them in two games as a starter, lightning-quick and involved in defensive retreat.

Adrien Rabiot reveals himself as a technical leader in the middle, Antoine Griezmann plays his score wonderfully behind Olivier Giroud (double against Australia) and Kylian Mbappé (double against Denmark).

One downside: the sides

If you have to find gray areas in Doha, it's on the sides of the defense.

On the left, Theo Hernandez took over from his brother Lucas, injured and forfeited, with application and a paying offensive drive.

But he has no natural understudy in the squad, which could prove problematic with the sequence of matches.

On the right, Benjamin Pavard had "a very complicated match" against Australia, admitted the coach.

On Saturday, he was replaced by Jules Koundé, also a central defender, sometimes lacking in bearings and guilty of a fault which could have led to an expulsion before the break.

Defender Théo Hernandez and striker Kylian Mbappé after the first goal of the Blues during the World Cup match against Denmark, November 26, 2022 in Doha Anne-Christine POUJOULAT AFP

"It was a little difficult at first with a few lost balls", but "I felt good", reacted the person concerned, highlighting his complicity with Dembélé, his teammate at Barça.

"In a role of closing, of balance, he made a good performance", appreciated Deschamps.

Deserved rest, early rotation

The tricolor group has "the tranquility, the serenity of being already qualified after two matches (...) and a strong probability of being first (in the group) thanks to our goal average against Australia “, summed up “DD”.

This is the scenario he aspired to.

"We must make sure to make, ideally, the third match optional to bring some management of the group and switch to a second competition in the competition", he had underlined before the World Cup to AFP.

Against Tunisia, there will be rotation, "that's for sure, but don't ask me + who, how, a lot +", he evacuated.

Anxious to "not lose anyone" along the way, a formula he often repeats, Deschamps will have the opportunity to give more playing time to those who have already entered, such as Youssouf Fofana, Kingsley Coman and Marcus Thuram, and from the first minutes to those who remained on the bench (Mandanda, Areola, Disasi, Saliba, Veretout, Guendouzi, Camavinga, Kolo Muani).

The coach of the Blues Didier Deschamps exults after the victory of France against Denmark at the World Cup, November 26, 2022 in Doha Anne-Christine POUJOULAT AFP

However, the incumbents will not let go easily, like Mbappé and Giroud in search of records.

"Of course I want to play it!" Also launched Theo Hernandez.

"Being qualified does not change anything, we want to win all the time".

© 2022 AFP