The last training session of the French team organized this Sunday morning in the rain of Paderborn allowed to see a little more clearly about the starting eleven that Didier Deschamps intends to field on Monday in Düsseldorf against Belgium (6 p.m.) in the round of 16 of the Euro. After the first quarter of an hour open to the press, the coach of the Blues carried out a set-up behind closed doors of the Home Deluxe Arena, returning to his habits after having covered his tracks during the two previous sessions on the eve of the match, before the Netherlands and Poland.
As we wrote on Friday, the trend towards a return to 4-4-2, most certainly in a diamond, is confirmed. At the heart of this system, we should find Antoine Griezmann in a position as playmaker supporting the attackers. Substitute against Poland, the number 7 of the Blues would occupy an essential role in the animation of the French game, which has often lacked creativity since the start of the competition. “Grizou” would then be in charge of supplying Kylian Mbappé and Marcus Thuram, expected as starters in the axis.
As L’Equipe had suggested, the Inter Milan player, also left to rest during the last group match, would make his return to the Blues’ eleven to the detriment of Ousmane Dembélé. A more vertical profile to accompany the French captain in a register where his ability to take space forward should be important.
Relieving offensive players of defensive tasks
For the rest, Didier Deschamps will rely on what made the Blues strong during the group matches with a defense composed, from right to left, of Jules Koundé, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba and Theo Hernandez, with Mike Maignan in goal. In midfield, the distribution of tasks would be as follows: Aurélien Tchouaméni at low point in front of the defense, N’Golo Kanté as right relay while Adrien Rabiot would be his counterpart on the left.
This configuration should put them in the best position to thwart the Belgian plans while relieving the offensive players of defensive tasks. We are thus heading towards a new configuration for the Blues since the Euro after the 4-3-3 of Austria and Poland and the asymmetric 4-4-2 set up against the Netherlands.
The probable composition of the Blues
Maignan – Koundé, Upamecano, Saliba, Theo Hernandez – Kanté, Tchouaméni, Rabiot – Griezmann – Thuram, Mbappé (cap.)
