After Ukraine (1-1) and Kazakhstan (2-0), the France team faces Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday at 8:45 p.m., with several goals: a victory to finish the job well and keep first place in their qualifying group for the 2022 World Cup, all with the Euro in the sights. 

After their uneventful victory on Sunday in Kazakhstan (2-0), the Blues made a stopover in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday evening (8:45 p.m.).

A victory would allow the Blues to keep the head of Group D, synonymous with direct qualification for the 2022 World Cup, but also to return to their respective clubs with the feeling of duty accomplished.

The staff relies on recovery

The trip to Kazakhstan was not easy for the Blues.

Extended trip, minimal recovery time, jet lag, winter temperatures, conditions were far from ideal.

But the Blues provided the essentials by winning 2-0.

After their victory, they spent the night in Nursoultan before flying directly to Sarajevo on Monday, without passing through France.

To give players more rest, Monday's training has been canceled.

The Habs therefore only trained once, Tuesday, before facing Bosnia.

Not enough to worry captain Hugo Lloris: "the most important thing will be to respond mentally, because then the legs will follow. It is up to us to be ready to make the efforts from the start of the match," he said on Tuesday.

The goalkeeper of the Blues should also honor his 123rd selection Wednesday night, and therefore join Thierry Henry in the second rank of the most capped internationals in the history of the France team.

In full preparation for the match against Bosnia-Herzegovina (tomorrow at 8:45 pm on M6)!

pic.twitter.com/yox5TzLwmG

- French team ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) March 30, 2021

Bosnia, adversary in decline

The Bosnian team is not in great shape: it has not won any of its last ten games (5 draws, 5 defeats) and its last victory dates back to November 2019 against Liechtenstein.

She is now 56th in the FIFA rankings.

It must be said that Bosnia is carried by its two aging stars, Edin Dzeko (AS Roma, 35 years old) and Miralem Pjanic (FC Barcelona, ​​30 years old).

"These are two players who stand out for their technical ease and their experience," commented Hugo Lloris.

In difficulty with Barça, the former Lyonnais Miralem Pjanic will celebrate his 100th selection against France.

But behind him and Dzeko, the new generation is struggling to win.

Bosnia started qualifying for the 2022 World Cup with a draw against Finland (2-2).

The Bosnians then conceded a 0-0 friendly against Costa Rica, with a team largely reshaped to leave the executives to rest before receiving the France team.

It should also be noted that the coach of Bosnia, the Bulgarian Ivaylo Petev, will not be present with his players on Wednesday evening because he tested positive for Covid-19.

He will therefore leave his place on the bench to his deputy.

Changes to be expected in the Blues

The coach of the Blues Didier Deschamps has again promised changes.

Wednesday night's starting lineup should look like the one that faced Ukraine (1-1), without N'Golo Kanté who left the group in the meantime due to injury.

Kylian Mbappé and Olivier Giroud are applying for a return to the team at kick-off, like Adrien Rabiot, Raphaël Varane and Presnel Kimpembe.

An uncertainty remains however between Kylian Mbappé and Kingsley Coman.

This international window will also have made it possible to highlight the return to favor of Ousmane Dembélé, finally regular with Barça.

"Ousmane (Dembélé) has a capacity for speed and to go a little more without the ball. He does it even more in his club in a central attacking position, even if he walks all over the place," Deschamps said at a press conference.

Will he be associated with the Bayern striker?

“In absolute terms, they are not incompatible. Kingsley (Coman) plays both sides, even if he has a preferential side. Ousmane can also play both sides, even if he has a preferential side. 'do not have the same preferential sides, "smiled the coach of the Blues.

Last official match before the Euro

Didier Deschamps has assured that everything is not over and that being absent from the group in March does not mean being deprived of Euro, the changes should still be minimal by June.

The coach has a group in mind.

So for the players on waivers, the match against Bosnia, the last official before the Euro, is the last opportunity to show off.

Ferland Mendy, remained on the bench last week, or Tanguy Ndombélé and Thomas Lemar, holders without shining against Kazakhstan, hope to have one last chance to convince.

Hit in the knee, Anthony Martial was absent from collective training on Tuesday and therefore very uncertain.