DECRYPTION – Everything you need to know before the fifth day of the Nations League match between France and Israel, this Thursday, at the Stade de France.
The Blues meet Israel this Thursday (8:45 p.m.), at the Stade de France. A match from the fifth day of the Nations League which will be broadcast by TF1. It will obviously be followed live with commentary on our site.
What’s at stake for the Blues?
This penultimate match of the year could allow the France team to validate its place in the quarter-finals of the Nations League. The first two in each group are qualified. The Blues are currently second in the standings with nine points, five more than third-placed Belgium. A draw would be enough for the happiness of Didier Deschamps’ men. In fact, they could even qualify in the event of a defeat against Israel if Belgium does not beat Italy at the same time. Italy, leader in the standings of group A2 with ten bridges, will be France’s last opponent, on November 17 in Milan, on the occasion of the sixth day. A final for first place? Note that the Israeli selection is last with zero points, four defeats so far.
What precedents between the two teams?
The last confrontation between the two teams largely turned in favor of the Blues. It was last October 10, in Budapest, during the third day of the Nations League. 4-1 victory for the France team, with goals from Eduardo Camavinga and Christopher Nkunku in the first period, then goals from Mattéo Guendouzi and Bradley Barcola in the final minutes, to kill the suspense. The man named Omri Gandelman equalized at 1-1 in the first act. A controlled match but during which the Tricolores did not exert their talent… nor totally convinced. Seriousness and the three points. The returning Nkunku had inherited the best score (7) and the neophyte Michael Olise, the worst (3).
It was the tenth France-Israel or Israel-France in history. Results of the confrontations? Five French victories, four draws and one defeat. Nobody has forgotten this Israeli success at the Parc des Princes, during the qualifiers for the 1994 World Cup, on October 13, 1993. France needed a point from its last two matches to reach the American World Cup. White cabbage against Israel (2-3) and then against Bulgaria (2-3).
Will the Stade de France be full?
No. Far from it… There was no particular gauge for this first match at the Stade de France since France-Greece, in June 2023. However, we expect less than 20,000 people in Saint-Denis this Thursday. Which will represent a record. The lowest attendance at the “SDF” for a Blues match so far? France – New Zealand, in June 2003, for a Confederations Cup match. 36,842 spectators witnessed the 5-0 victory of Thierry Henry, Lilian Thuram, Marcel Desailly, Bixente Lizarazu and company. A real flop, undoubtedly due to the quality of the poster, the level of performances of the French team recently, but also the security aspects.
Which captain for the Blues?
With Kylian Mbappé sidelined, Antoine Griezmann retired and Aurélien Tchouaméni out, Didier Deschamps had to appoint a new captain. This time, it will be N’Golo Kanté. International 63 times (2 goals) and aged 33, the Al-Ittihad player is clearly the most experienced of the current group, ahead of returning Kingsley Coman (28 years old, 57 caps), Benjamin Pavard (28 years old, 54 caps) and Adrien Rabiot (29 years old, 48 caps). “NG” is not the most expressive, however. However, he was preferred to Jules Koundé (26 years old, 36 caps) or Mike Maignan (29 years old, 26 caps)… while waiting for the return of Mbappé? Deschamps suggested that the question of the armband could arise in the future. In the meantime, Kanté will be captain against Israel. To see for Italy. One thing is certain: Kanté is unanimous, on and off the field.
Why is this a risky match?
Not for the stakes or for the fear that Israel, a modest 81st nation in the FIFA rankings, would inspire on the field. It is obviously the current geopolitical context and the tensions in the Middle East which make this meeting tense and the context explosive. Some even hoped that it would take place behind closed doors. “France is not backing down because that would amount to abdicating in the face of threats of violence and anti-Semitism», Quickly indicated Bruno Retailleau, the Minister of the Interior. The security system will nevertheless be reinforced. There are also fears, after the serious incidents observed in Amsterdam on November 7, during a Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv. Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema spoke on Tuesday of a “toxic cocktail of anti-Semitism and hooliganism“. President Macron and his Prime Minister Michel Barnier will attend the game.
