The Blues will have to wait and seek their qualification for the round of 16 on June 25 in Dortmund against Poland, which has none. With four points, they are in a favorable position, close to the goal but they have not yet won the cup.
This in-between obviously complicates the management of human resources for Didier Deschamps, who will not be able to rotate as much as he would have liked against Robert Lewandowski’s teammates. Even if he will have to replace a few fighters, already subjected to two incredibly intense outings in less than a week. Fortunately the temperatures remain mild in Germany otherwise they would have to be picked up with a teaspoon.
To go far in an international competition, managing the third group match remains one of the keys, an athletic and social issue. So that the replacements don’t end the whole ordeal sitting on imitation leather benches, expecting nothing.
Kanté still man of the match
It would also be necessary by next Tuesday for the coach to find Kylian Mbappé in good shape and his sinuses operational. The Blues display the best defense of the Euro but also advance with an attack which does not penetrate, keeps the fuse inside without anyone being able to ignite the spark. A formidable collective with the virtues of solidarity and an impeccable state of mind, desperately seeking a goalscorer.
We would eventually have to make something of this superiority out of it. In this Euro, the Blues continue to form a team, confirming against the Netherlands their disposition against Austria. They fell into the competition from their first minute of play in Germany. They have great strengths, new or eternal, like the overpowering, even superhuman activity of N’Golo Kanté, still elected man of the match, the very one that no club in Europe should have let escape, even if it means align with his Saudi salary.
Or even this central hinge with considerable impact and just recovery, Dayot Upamecano – William Saliba. She let the orange storm pass before taking stock of the three Batavian attackers, lost from sight throughout the meeting. Like the tide of supporters, occupying three quarters of the Red Bull Arena, less and less audible.
What matters is realism
No, what matters is realism. Didier Deschamps’ men could have filled a lottery grid with their number of chances, first by Antoine Griezmann in the first period (14th), even more during the second, with attempts from Marcus Thuram, a header Aurélien Tchouaméni or even the captain of the Blues, hindered by the goalkeeper.
If we add Canada in preparation and Austria at the start of the Euro, with an own goal for the only gain even if it brings three points, the partners of the formidable Mike Maignan are anticipating the harvest. It could have lasted the entire night of the music festival, when you woke up, you would not have missed anything from the Blues, no goals in any case. They obviously need Kylian Mbappé, masked, even if he too experienced an unusual waste against Austria. The virus of inefficiency seems contagious.
A quarter of an hour from the end, the coaching of Didier Deschamps ― Olivier Giroud and Kingsley Coman for Marcus Thuram and Ousmane Dembélé ― restored presence in the area but did not have the necessary momentum after a long sequence intervention by the VAR for a goal ultimately canceled by Xavi Simons. The Blues do not concede a goal, even with the video. They have to score now. A masked avenger bides his time, lurking in the shadows.
