Didier Deschamps had prepared his move well. After having blurred the lines on Saturday, by working a 4-2-3-1 system with a number 10 and a real point, the Blues coach took everyone by surprise by deciding, finally, to field a midfielder extra (Guendouzi) and to install Christopher Nkunku up front. A false new, but a real choice. Although this option might seem small on paper, it has, in fact, proven to be extremely effective.
While they owed their supporters a revenge after the slap on September 6 at the Parc des Princes (1-3) and the sad draw last Thursday against Israel (0-0), the vice-world champions arrived with a another face: that of a group which did not want to be stepped on. Among the evening’s highlights, Adrien Rabiot found a starting place in the selection for the first time since the semi-final lost against Spain at the Euro on July 9 (2-1). He responded by scoring a double header, receiving two offerings from Lucas Digne who, like him, was celebrating his 50th selection at San Siro.
“This victory is great. It’s been a long time since we had a match like this, since we hadn’t fought together until the end, rejoiced the Marseillais at the microphone of TF1. There was the objective of winning by two goals (Editor’s note: to take first place). But the mutual support and team spirit during this match were very important. We were keen to take our revenge after the defeat in September. I hope that we will keep this face because it is this, the true face of the France team. »
Involved in all three goals this Sunday, November 17, Lucas Digne was the great satisfaction of the day. With his beautiful left paw, he reminded us that this French team could count on a real set-piece shooter to hurt his opponents. For him, this result is only confirmation that this group has talent and has lost none of its former strength. “The mindset never left. It was more on your side (Editor’s note: the press) that we said that… We have always had a good group that lives well. We were keen to show a different face after the few criticisms we had received. That’s a good answer. We showed that we were a united group. We must rely on this match to look forward. »
“We were on a mission”
With the energy and impact they put into each duel, the Blues gave the locals no chance. It was even impressed that Luciano Spalletti, the Italian coach, recognized that the France team was, according to him, “one of the strongest teams in the world from a physical point of view”. Newbie Manu Koné was impressive in front of the defense by deploying enormous force in winning the ball. He illustrated the defensive rigor of his team which, with the Konaté-Saliba pair and a super reassuring Maignan, only cracked once on Cambiaso’s half-volley (1-2, 35th). We needed at least that to end the year in style and look forward to the next one with this renewed desire and energy that has been lacking lately.
“It was a game for pride. When we play as a team, when we make efforts for each other, we can do great things,” recalled Maignan as he left the field. “We were on a mission. From the warm-up, it was clear that everyone was there to win, added captain of the day Ibrahima Konaté. Our ambition was to be collective and it worked well. Against Israel, we had a lot of opportunities to break the match but beyond that we were a little soft. An individual and collective questioning was needed to show another face. We put desire, rhythm, into the impacts and into the duels. We were better than them. » This is a good basis for 2025 with the Nations League quarter-final in mind next spring (March 20, 23) and a draw planned for this Friday, November 22 in Nyon.
We found the Blues, the real ones, with the integration of new elements (Koné), a significant return (Rabiot) and the rise in power of certain elements (Digne, Guendouzi, Konaté). DD can smile. After receiving the international retirement of his lung Antoine Griezmann, the challenge of “reoxygenation” demonstrated, this Sunday evening, that it could bring a new lease of life.
