The France team meets Belgium in the round of 16 of Euro 2024 this Monday July 1 in Düsseldorf, in a familiar shock for their first knockout match of the competition. Unconvincing so far, Didier Deschamps’ men must raise their level of play and regain their offensive flair or risk a premature exit against the Red Devils.
Published on: 01/07/2024 – 07:50
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This time, the Blues no longer have the right to make a mistake. After a group stage that ended in 2nd place in Group D – after a narrow victory against Austria (1-0) and two draws against the Netherlands (0-0) and Poland (1-1) – Didier Deschamps’ men will have to step up a gear against a Belgium team that is also struggling to convince in this Euro 2024, but which has always delivered intense duels to the Blues in major competitions.
The most memorable of them is obviously the semi-final of the 2018 World Cup won by the French against the Belgians (1-0) led by their golden generation (Hazard, De Bruyne, Kompany, Courtois…). Three years later, another duel at the top between the two neighbors in the last four of the Nations League: the Devils first knocked out the Blues with two goals in the first half, before the Tricolores made a spectacular comeback and snatched victory at the last minute thanks to a goal from Théo Hernandez (90th, 3-2). Cruel for the Belgians.
Read alsoEuro 2024: open round of 16, with a France-Belgium shock on the program
So has the time finally come for Belgium? Despite the absence of his impassable goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who has withdrawn from the competition, Domenico Tedesco can nevertheless count on a talented new generation (Doku, Trossard, Faes…) and executives who have experience of major events, like his playing master Kevin De Bruyne and his scorer Romelu Lukaku, often criticized for his lack of efficiency (three goals refused by the VAR in this Euro) but always difficult to muzzle in the area.
The Manchester City midfielder did not fail to praise the defensive qualities of the France team. “ They are a team that leaves little space. We are clearly not favourites but this outsider position suits me perfectly. ” he said in the Belgian daily The last news. The Blues’ defensive block is in fact the main satisfaction of the first round of the competition, with a solid Upamecano-Saliba central hinge and rather convincing full-backs. On the offensive side, however, the Blues clearly missed their entry into the competition.
An attack and landmarks to find
After three contested matches, Kylian Mbappé and his teammates have not scored a single goal in the game. Their inaugural victory against Austria came from a CSC from Wöber, while the draw conceded against Poland was thanks to a penalty. Statistics that stand out for a team expected to be one of the most prolific in the tournament.
Several things explain this poor form of the usual dynamiters of the French team: Mbappé’s broken nose, which occurred against Austria, and his poor physical condition after a chaotic season at PSG are a first clue. same for me Antoine Griezmann, author of two disappointing first matches and even left the starting eleven during the 3rd match against Poland. Alongside them, Marcus Thuram still lacks cutting edge at the forefront of the attack and Ousmane Dembélé is rarely decisive, despite obvious activity on his wing.
The Blues are preparing for Monday…
🇫🇷🇧🇪#FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/EVy9FrSSQF— Team France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) June 29, 2024
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But as Didier Deschamps likes to remind us, the decisive matches which begin from these round of 16 are a “ another competition starting ” and the French coach can rely on the example of the 2018 World Cup won by the Blues but also started without brilliance. At the head of the selection for 12 years, Deschamps has already been confirmed in his position until 2026 before the start of the competition by Philippe Diallo, the president of the French Football Federation. But a disappointment against Belgium in the 8th could nevertheless come to reshuffle the cards.
The fact remains that the Blues created their share of chances during the group stage, failing above all in finishing. After a five-day rest and the tactical adjustments concocted by Deschamps – including a probable 4-4-2 diamond system with Griezmann in support of a Thuram/Mbappé duo – the players of the France team could approach this clash with a newfound serenity and take advantage of the defensive generosity of Belgium, a formation that is also playful. The explanation will in any case be between neighbors and familiar adversaries at the Esprit Arena in Düsseldorf.
Also readFollow Euro 2024 on RFI
