Success, talent and youth: the Blues have not changed

DECRYPTION

There is, with this French team, an often ambivalent feeling.

The victory against Croatia (4-2), Tuesday night in the League of Nations, once again proved this.

Completely overwhelmed for thirty minutes, collectively without ideas for a good part of the meeting, the Blues once again relied on their individualities and the incredible pool of young talents to chain a second success in a row, after that obtained in Sweden on Saturday night (1-0).

An almost unchanged recipe which continues to pay off.

In the game: victory with pain (and luck)

Two victories, first place in the League of Nations group tied with Portugal: for the Blues, all the lights are green.

At least in terms of results, because for the artistic note, we will come back.

The lackluster victory in Sweden (1-0) on Saturday night certainly did not satisfy fans of fine play. "We cannot say that we had a brilliant, serious, diligent match," Didier admitted Deschamps after the meeting. 

Tuesday night, the Blues were even clearly dominated by Croatia for a good part of the first period, then at the start of the second.

The world champions have yet managed to reverse the situation to miraculously lead 2-1 at the break, and it was "well paid", by DD's own admission. 

And when we add a hint of success, with a goal against his camp from the Croatian goalkeeper and a generous penalty whistled on an opposing hand, to the point of ending up winning by the same score as in the last World Cup final (4-2), we say to ourselves that not much can happen to these Blues.

Individualities: Mbappé, then Griezmann and Martial, the saviors

If the France team is world champion and is able to win even without necessarily playing very well, it owes it above all to its individualities.

Saturday night, Kylian Mbappé had saved the sad blue night from a flash of genius (with a hint of success), to register the only goal in Sweden.

Without "Kyky", package after testing positive for the coronavirus, the Blues relied on Antoine Griezmann and Anthony Martial against Croatia.

"Grizi" first equalized after a magnificent collective action (1-1), before delivering an assist from a corner for Dayot Upamecano (3-2).

Martial, he first offered a caviar to Griezmann, before being decisive on the goal against his camp of the Croatian goalkeeper (2-1).

After two years of absence in the selection, the Manchester United striker has certainly scored points and proved that the Blues have sacred talents. 

Youth: Upamecano and Camavinga, two more diamonds

The two matches against Sweden and Croatia also demonstrated the incredible pool of young players available to Didier Deschamps.

Dayot Upamecano, central defender of Leipzig (21), was convincing for his first two caps (despite some difficulties) and even scored his first goal, with a furious header.

The list of very high-level exchanges is growing with a new name and makes you dizzy: Lenglet (FC Barcelona), Hernandez (Bayern Munich), Varane (Real Madrid), Kimpembe (PSG), and now Upamecano.

And what about the prodigy Eduardo Camavinga, a precocious phenomenon who celebrated his first selection against Croatia at the age of… 17 years and 9 months.

The Rennes midfielder, excellent after coming on in the 63rd minute, has even become the youngest player to wear the France team jersey in 100 years.

With the Blues, the future is already now.