Three behind to better serve the attack ... What is DD's 3-5-2 hiding?

Assembly carried out under mineral water.

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• Didier Deschamps moved to 3-5-2 for almost a year

• The coach denies adopting a defensive system

• We explain to you why actually playing three behind is not necessarily synonymous with concrete (but also why we could be more offensive)

Time flies.

Poncif.

But true.

Did you know for example that the 3-5-2 in the France team under Didier Deschamps will celebrate its first anniversary on November 17?

On this date, in 2019, the coach surprised his world by innovating with a three-way defense against Albania, succumbing to the great retro fashion of a scheme that had led Maradona's Argentina to the world coronation in 86 before go back under the radar over the years.

A little nod to DD: it is his former club, Juve, which was under Antonio Conte one of the first to come out 3-5-2 from the cupboard at the start of the 2010 decade. three behind even survived the departure of its instigator because it initially allowed not to have to choose between Chiellini, Bonucci and Barzagli.

Any resemblance to the France team and its plethora of central defenders would be fortuitous.

Kimpembe, Varane, Upamecano against Sweden, Hernandez, Lenglet, Upamecano against Croatia, there is plenty to do.

But, by adopting a scheme initially thought for the defense, Didier Deschamps offers an opening to the detractors who reproach him with an excessive pragmatism to the detriment of the beautiful game. What he also defended himself this week.

“We are at a high level and the objective is to seek victory.

Not just any old way, but the primary objective is always the same.

To have as much control as possible and to put the opponent in as much difficulty as possible.

I prefer to have the ball and control.

"

Let's give that to Didier, it hasn't gone too badly so far.

But we have to admit that lining up Dubois and Digne in pistons - those kind of hybrid wingers who have to occupy all the colors - right and left against Sweden was perhaps not the best way to sell a new product. whose main quality would be mastery.

From there to saying that this 3-5-2 is the antithesis of football, there is a gap that we will not cross (immediately).

Firstly, because it is only in its infancy and Deschamps has six games to refine it.

Then, because contrary to popular belief, this tactical change is not necessarily intended to consolidate the defensive base.

Modular at will

“Being solid behind, we have already proven that we could be in other schemes.

This 3-5-2 is not to lock, swore DD Monday at a press conference.

This may surprise you, but my objective with this system is to ensure that the offensive players are in the best possible position […] In this system, we created a lot of chances, we scored a lot. of goals.

“Seven pawns in three games, we've seen worse, we've known better.

Doctor of tactics, Christophe Kuchly distils his knowledge in the podcast Vu du banc.

And for him, the coach is in good faith.

“Deschamps' 3-5-2 is halfway between the versions where the concrete is behind and those of Leipzig and Atalanta where the pistons are ultra high.

In the France team, he wants to play his side quite high but there are not yet the combinations for.

If you want to do an Atalanta type thing, it really takes a lot of repetitions and that's why it's interesting to do it right now.

It requires adjustments to the passing circuits to work on.

"

Ah yes, by the way, the notion of piston means everything and nothing.

You will not have the same performance depending on whether you line up a training side, a midfielder or a winger like Coman, whose name is cited by the coach on the right.

Likewise, it will not play the same way depending on whether you play against San Marino or Brazil.

"It's the right time" ... DD puts the Blues in difficulty, but it is assumed via @ 20minutesSport https://t.co/EqAOwAgR0h

- 20 Minutes Sport (@ 20minutesSport) September 9, 2020

“Against Ukraine,” says Kuchly, “the position of your piston will logically be that of a winger because you will dominate.

So Coman on the right, with a more defensive profile on the left to balance, why not?

Said like that, the 3-5-2 appears to be the tactical equivalent of the modular Quechua tent.

Is there anything more Deschamps than that?

Square, triangle, rhombus, up, down, left, right ...

But let's put the blackboard away.

Basically, this change of course also hides the plans of the manager DD, eager to keep Antoine Griezmann, traumatized by his exile on the right at Barça, in an axial position that he likes so much.

That he is depressed in the club, yes, but out of the question for the coach to let his asset drag his spleen in Blue.

Too precious, too atypical, said the boss of the EDF.

“Where it is most effective is in the middle, at the heart of the game, to be able to bind together.

He even has the volume to sometimes find himself in midfield.

"

DD is convinced Griezmann is not happy with his situation at Barca via @ 20minutesSport https://t.co/o2AdobLPLx

- 20 Minutes Sport (@ 20minutesSport) October 5, 2020

Still, the 3-5-2 is not the only system capable of returning Grizou to the center of the village.

Why not try a diamond-shaped environment more focused on daring, on creativity?

With the myriad of midfielders available, shouldn't it?

We put the question to Deschamps, professor emeritus of geometry.

Hang in there:

“The diamond is one of the solutions.

Obviously there are a lot of midfielders and others who could be there so there are enough players there.

The choice to play in a three-way defense, as I have already explained, is in relation to the three-way triangle in front [Giroud, Griezmann, Mbappé], and this triangle, as part of a diamond in the middle, it remains relevant.

It is therefore a possibility but it is not the same benchmarks, not the same system, with advantages and disadvantages.

This is an option that I will put in place at one point or another.

"

Given the lukewarmness of this response, we reserve the right to imagine at best as an additional solution.

Kuchly sees it as a major incompatibility with what should be a plan A for Deschamps.

“I tend to think that in order to defend well as a block, you need players on the sides in the middle.

But in the diamond, the two midfielders would have too large an area to cover on the sides in the defensive phase, and I find it hard to see how a diamond can not expose the full sides.

"Defense, always defense ...

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