Are the Blues still scary?
Not really, it seems, in recent matches, while the men of Didier Deschamps will face, Tuesday, September 7 in Lyon, Finland in a decisive duel of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.
Prematurely eliminated from Euro-2021 by Switzerland in the round of 16, when they had been designated as the big favorites of the competition, the French, who have not won any of their last five matches - Hungary, Portugal, Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ukraine - still seem to be recovering.
5 - France has a fifth consecutive draw for the very first time in its history.
Breakdown.
pic.twitter.com/hjNChCp6lE
- OptaJean (@OptaJean) September 4, 2021
Their last two outings in the 2022 World Cup qualifying phase, against Bosnia and Herzegovina (1-1) at home and against Ukraine (1-1) in Kiev, confirmed the diagnosis.
Twice led to the score, the Blues managed to equalize but without managing to dictate their law to opponents yet largely within their reach, but not impressed.
"Are we cured? Apparently we are not, but I can sense players who want to give everything, said Monday to the press, captain Hugo Lloris. There are periods like That where we do not find the solution, but this is not the time to let go, on the contrary. It is the time to hurt yourself. "
No more joker
Failure of inspiration on the field and on the sidelines, drop in physical speed, lack of automatism, stereotypical play ... the list of grievances is long while the France team is no longer entitled to a wild card in the race to qualification.
The Blues are certainly still at the top of Group D with 9 points, ahead of Finland, which has 5 points.
But their opponent of the day is two games late.
Consequently, a defeat of the reigning world champions tonight would jeopardize the chances of retaining this first directly qualifying place for the World Cup organized in Qatar.
While some sports media are increasingly questioning the coach's ability to redress the bar, the question of his maintenance had also been asked after the Euro.
The Blues have the opportunity to close the debate on Tuesday evening.
"It's a less happy period obviously because of the results, Didier Deschamps told the press on Monday. We know what we have to do to remain masters of our destiny, and that means winning."
"The flame has just gone down, it is not yet extinguished"
It is first for the Blues to find the defensive solidity that was their strength, while they have conceded at least one goal in the last five games.
5 - France conceded the opener in each of their last 5 matches, their longest streak of this kind since November 2009-June 2010 under Raymond Domenech (also 5).
Asleep.
#UKRFRA pic.twitter.com/OuOg95T8MY
- OptaJean (@OptaJean) September 4, 2021
Then, to display more panache and authority in the middle, which, when deprived of N'Golo Kanté, struggles to impose his domination.
And this, despite all the efforts of Paul Pogba.
"We have to do a lot better," conceded the Manchester United midfielder after the match against Ukraine, in an interview with RTL and M6. "You have to be more aggressive, wet the jersey, show more desire (...) It's been a long time since I won a match with the France team, I miss it, we all miss it, a he added. The flame has just lowered, it is not yet extinguished. "
On the attack side, the French must seek to inspire fear again in the opposing defenders.
Against Finland, the offensive animation will probably be entrusted to Antoine Griezmann and Karim Benzema.
The experienced duo must display better complementarity in the absence of Kylian Mbappé, affected in the calf against the Bosnians in a new disappointing game on his part.
In the opposite camp, the Finns, still undefeated in the group, have everything to gain against the Blues, of which they are the last scorers, since officially the round of 16 against Switzerland was lost on penalties, after a draw.
France was then bowed, to everyone's surprise, during a friendly match in Saint-Denis on November 11, 2020 (0-2).
Eliminated from the Euro - the first in their history - in the group stage, the Finns continue to improve.
If they are not the scarecrow of European football, they are able to resist any team thanks to a profusion of energy as well as an exemplary collective and defensive solidarity.
A discipline that does not prevent them from throwing themselves forward to take advantage of the slightest opponent's error.
In Lyon, facing the Blues in full doubt, Finland will certainly seek to do at least as well as the Bosnians and Ukrainians.
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