Play, Thuram, Rabiot, Giroud… What we liked about the last matches of the Blues

DECRYPTION

And to think that we had doubted the Blues ... In three days, the France team has dispelled all the clouds born of its defeat against Finland, in a friendly match a week ago.

In the meantime, the world champions have done more than credit to their status by winning two great victories in the League of Nations, first against Portugal (1-0) last Saturday, then Tuesday night against Sweden (4-2) .

With these two great performances, the Blues qualified for the final phase (the Final Four) of this competition, which will be contested next fall.

But the essential is elsewhere.

Didier Deschamps and his staff were able to draw many positive lessons from this gathering in November, with a view to Euro 2021 next summer.

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- Relive the victory of the Blues against Sweden

Play and a sacred technical quality

Let's be honest, the game against Finland worried us a lot.

A dry defeat (2-0), no ideas, no fighting spirit ... But let's be fair: this friendly in mid-November, in the middle of an overloaded start to the season, only counted for butter (and again. ..).

What we expected was this shock in Portugal, in Lisbon, with the challenge of first place in the group and qualification for the Final Four of the League of Nations.

The Blues have perfectly met expectations, winning on a goal from N'Golo Kanté (1-0) and signing one of their best performances of the Deschamps era.

"Over the last few months, this will be our benchmark match," Raphaël Varane had analyzed after the meeting.

Tuesday night, the Blues may not have reached this level of performance, but they achieved an accomplished match despite the lack of stake.

The Swedes, even if they quickly opened the scoring, then suffered the collective and technical superiority of the world champions, better in all areas.

The icing on the cake: Didier Deschamps' men gave pleasure to all their supporters.

We only ask to take more, if not more, in 2021.

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- Portugal-France: "One of the best performances since the World Cup victory"

A framework that is still as solid as ever, like Olivier Giroud

This November gathering also proved that the France team is based on an extremely solid framework.

Didier Deschamps had largely turned against Finland, before returning to a more classic composition against Portugal and Sweden.

And his executives, many of whom have been struggling in their clubs in recent months (Pogba, Griezmann, even Varane), have not disappointed him and have all lived up to the two meetings.

The symbol of this spine is obviously called Olivier Giroud.

The Chelsea striker, who has little playing time at the club, has once again shown great strength of character.

Substitute against Portugal, he responded perfectly Tuesday night with a brace against Sweden.

Starting holder, he first converted from the left an assist from Marcus Thuram (16th) before placing a diving header on a cross from Kylian Mbappé (59th).

With now 44 goals for the French team, he is getting closer to the record held by Thierry Henry (51).

"We also saw the executives who can be in difficulty in their clubs. I take the example of Olivier Giroud, it is not easy for him, and today he puts a double. I have players of top level, in terms of the state of mind it's perfect, "said Didier Deschamps, questioned on M6 after the victory against Sweden.

Marcus Thuram and Adrien Rabiot, the two big winners

The executives were not the only ones to pull out of the game. Two young people also scored points: Marcus Thuram and Adrien Rabiot.

The son of Lilian, called for the first in the France team, had already shown to his advantage against Finland.

The Borussia Mönchengladbach striker was again very good against Sweden with an assist on the first French goal, then a technical festival (dribbling, roulette and strike counter) at the origin of the 2-1 signed Benjamin Pavard.

Aggressive, lively and punchy, Marcus Thuram has certainly made a mark in an ultra-competitive offensive sector and should be summoned again next March.

Adrien Rabiot has come a long way.

The midfielder trained at PSG has long been excluded from the selection following his resounding refusal to be a reserve at the 2018 World Cup. After more than two years of absence, Didier Deschamps finally recalled him last August.

And it is clear that DD was right to persevere.

Now at Juventus Turin, Rabiot has shown impressive physical qualities, especially against Portugal, in addition to his traditional technical virtuosity.

The "Duke", his nickname, is now clearly applying for a place in the starting XI.

From banished to potential holder in a few months: Adrien Rabiot all spitting.