It’s “only” the Nations League, but the defeat against Croatia and only two points from four games have increased concerns in France before the World Cup.
In the “L’Equipe“, the major French sports paper, things had sorted themselves out by Tuesday morning. The online edition shared the latest transfer rumours PSG on, followed by a view of the Tour de France and a report from the NBA Finals.
Four games, no win for Mbappé and Co.
For the Nations League, an event whose importance is still considered to be manageable, one had to be on the “L’Equipe“-Scroll down the page a bit. But there were all the heartier headlines there, after France’s 0-1 home defeat against Croatia: “breakdown generale“, the appearance of the French was a “total loss”. Not only against Croatia, but also in the three previous games, in which there was also no win, plus the poor yield of only three goals. And that with France’s miracle storm Kylian Mbappe, Karim Benzema and Antoine Griezmann.
“Great ambiguity” – Much criticism of Deschamps
the L’Equipe wrote from “quite disastrous 14 days” and made it above all the national coach, Didier Deschampsresponsible. Deschamps had made some surprising changes against Croatia, returning to a 4-3-3 formation. His own team seemed overwhelmed, powerless and insecure, according to the “L’Equipe” and summarized the tactical concept of the coach as “the great ambiguity” together.
“We lacked strength, character and energy. You have to accept that, even if it hurts“Said Deschamps after the dismal 0-1 im Stade de France. After the death of his father, he himself did not “the energy and the power“had to pull the team out of their lethargy.
The threat of relegation from Nations League shouldn’t keep the French busy for too long. At least in the Nations League, the chance of defending the title has already burst, in the tenth duel with Croatia there was a defeat for the first time. France were also without a goal of their own for the first time in 24 games. The latter in particular raises the more urgent question, namely that of the fundamental constitution of the Team Tricolorefive months before the start of the World Cup in Qatar.
Deschamps reassured: Don’t worry”
Also Deschamps tried to calm the critics. “Of course I’m not worried“He said demonstratively. His team is currently lacking the necessary freshness, so Deschamps and in doing so also made use of the special circumstances, with four close-running Nations League games at the end of a strenuous season.
In fact, other big football nations, for example the DFB team, also offered a lot of lean food in the Nations League games. At a time when the stars are usually on vacation – if football hadn’t ordered a winter World Cup in Qatar.
“We still have a little time to prepare for the World Cup“said France’s captain Presnel Kimpembe. The current condition of the team is not worrying.
Fans mostly skeptical about Qatar World Cup in survey
However, skepticism has grown among fans after the bankruptcy against Croatia, the rerun of the 2018 World Cup final. When Figaro voted whether France was still the favorite for the World Cup, around 80 percent voted no by Tuesday morning.
The newspaper Le Parisien spoke of a “fiasco” after the defeat against Croatia. In view of the announced heatwave in France, the tabloid recommended turning attention away from football and towards the summer ahead: “The weather is getting better, but the French team isn’t.”