Giroud scored a goal during France-Croatia, September 8, 2020. -

FRANCK FIFE / AFP

At the Stade de France,

The France team, long outdated and without idea, was able to be realistic to beat Croatia by the same score as in the World Cup final (4-2), last night, in a Stade de France in huis closed.

The Blues, if they still have to step up, provided the essentials and this morning shared the head of their League of Nations group with Portugal.

And at the end…

… France wins.

The Croats must be a little fed up.

Even if this meeting had nothing to do with the final of two years ago, with only eight players concerned at the kick-off and an obviously different context, the Blues offered some reminiscences of this day of glory.

The score, therefore, but also this first period completely beside their pumps, overwhelmed in the engagement, from which they came out in front of the scoreboard without us really knowing how (2-1).

The second was better, much more rhythmic, Upamecano, scorer in his second selection, and Giroud, to whom Griezmann left a penalty, sealing the victory.

Ben Yedder-Martial, real candidates

The two attackers, involved in the first two goals of the Blues, took advantage of the chance that was given to them.

Martial, who was returning after more than two years of absence, initiated the first goal, which he then offered to Griezmann, and caused the second, a csc from the Croatian goalkeeper.

Ben Yedder has again proved that he is a hell of a football player, precise in small spaces.

Places will be expensive up front, whatever the system, between the essential Mbappé, Giroud and Griezmann, Fekir still there because he is the perfect understudy of Grizou, Coman… And we will have to see how Thauvin comes back.

See Dembélé.

What about 3-5-2?

After Sweden, DD will not have been able to see obvious progress in mastering this system, even if the seven changes compared to Solna explain it in part.

Sissoko and Mendy haven't shown much more than Dubois and Digne on the sides, which is a real concern.

The three exchanges had a terrible time coordinating.

Their excitement was a constant for 90 minutes.

Kanté and Nzonzi struggled to breathe life into the middle, too.

We will have to wait a bit to see if it can be a plan B, or even a little more than that.

But do not panic, we will still see the Blues six times by the end of the year.

That leaves, time, to improve. 

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