Ronaldo against Kanté, Pogba and Pavard during France-Portugal at Stade de France, October 11, 2020. -

Thibault Camus / AP / SIPA

  • The France team faces Portugal on Saturday night in a decisive match for first place in the League of Nations group. 

  • Beyond that, it would be good to win against a selection which has not been successful at the Blues lately and which will be in the same group as France at the Euro. 

  • A real rivalry may be emerging between the two nations. 

It took a day to get over it, but now that's it.

The mixture of the Blues against Finland is behind and it is time to take an interest in the real match that counts this week, namely the one against Portugal.

Saturday in Lisbon, the French team will play the most important meeting of its year 2020 (damn Covid ...).

At stake, the first place of the group in this League of Nations, which allows access to the semi-finals of the competition.

Always good to take, for the prestige and the idea that we have of a world champion nation, but the main thing is not quite there.

Finally according to us.

It would also be high time to beat Portugal again, right?

Because we can see the small complex coming from here if things should go badly again and we don't want it at all, while Ronaldo and his friends will still be on the road to the Blues at the Euro next summer.

Interview with Didier Deschamps 2 days from Portugal-France where the Blues will "seek first place" in the Nations League group #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/4Fa7ytSaPq

- French team ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) November 12, 2020

It is not palpable, but we can not help but think that the wind may have turned during the final of Euro 2016. It has been 41 years since the France team won against the Seleção, and this defeat, in the final, at home, with Ronaldo on the flank and after having touched the post, remains a heartbreak that the world coronation in Russia has not entirely healed.

We thought it was, but last month's muscular and frustrating draw brought back memories.

So it's only been two games, sure, but it would be nice to nip what is emerging.

We won't talk about a bête noire yet, of course.

Although, the concept does not necessarily depend on a given number of losses or games without a win.

"The bête noire is feeling, something subjective," explains Raphaël Homat, mental trainer for Ligue 1 players and who was interested in the issue.

The player or team will weave a link between one, two or three events that have happened and make a projection on the future.

"

The small production competition for young talents

To beat Portugal at home would be to exorcise what remains of the Euro, even unconsciously, and to get back to the place in view of the Euro.

“Of course, if you win, you send a message.

And that makes it possible not to let an ascending psychological potential set in, ”adds Homat.

The rivalry between the two nations has never seemed so strong.

The Portuguese, also winners of the first edition of the League of Nations in 2019, are in a prosperous period in their history.

And there's this little talent production competition, too.

With João Felix, Diogo Jota, Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes or Rúben Dias, the Portuguese are armed for years to come.

"We have a lot of respect for this great football nation," Hugo Lloris recalled Friday evening at a press conference.

There is a new talented generation arriving, which gives energy and ambition to this team.

We feel a strong team, sure of itself, it's a good mix with the experience of old and young talents who explode all over Europe.

"

Inferiority complex and headaches

There is strong competition, in fact, on the “official talent exporter” label, long owned by France.

“The potential of this team is very high,” observes Didier Deschamps.

The two countries are looking each other in the eye today, even if it is surely our navel-gazing point of view that makes us think that this was not the case before.

"I do not agree with the idea of ​​a past inferiority complex of Portugal vis-à-vis France, assures us the former defender of Porto and the selection Jorge Costa.

It's always been big games with great players on both sides.

"

Certainly, but before it turned for the Blues.

The semi-final of Euro 1984, with the incredible scenario (3-2 after extra time) is part of our national heritage, at least as much as that of 2000 with the hand of Abel Xavier and the penalty of Zidane.

Their too, but not for the same reasons.

“When people talk to me about France-Portugal, I should think of the victory in 2016 like any Portuguese.

But as a player who took part in this match, I can not help but think of that of Euro 2000, continues Jorge Costa.

Even today I have headaches just thinking about it.

"

These evils that we rehash, it is precisely what must be avoided before facing an opponent.

“The danger is to create a sort of preliminary scenario,” explains Raphaël Homat.

When we play against someone or a team that is not successful for us, we expect that at some point something will happen that will cause us to lose.

We have antennas in "expected problem detection" mode to validate what we thought.

And unconsciously we don't make the effort to go against it, because it seems normal.

"

They will certainly have other considerations in mind, Saturday, when entering the lawn, but it is also all that the Blues of Didier Deschamps will have to fight at the Stade de la Luz.

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