Between the wing or the thigh, Kylian Mbappé has chosen, this Saturday, November 26. We are not thinking of Sunday chicken – not easy to find, to our knowledge, good poultry from Bresse to Doha – but of sending the Blues to the round of 16 of the World Cup, from a decisive right thigh to the reception of a cross from Antoine Griezmann (86e).
In stadium 974, an astonishing giant Lego made from containers placed on the edge of the Persian Gulf, the French team dominated the Danes (2-1)as good at making plastic bricks as they are at tormenting the Blues. “We thought they had hit us twice this season [en Ligue des nations], so we had the knife between our teeth and we wanted to show another face”admits French midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni, a little vindictive.
A beautiful face of defending champion, even. In 2002, France inaugurated the tradition of the outgoing K.-O. in the next edition. Italy, Spain and Germany have since followed suit. A series substantial enough for superstitious minds to already speak of the champion’s curse. But Didier Deschamps does not listen to them. “I wasn’t worried, I’m never worriedassures the coach a bluffer nothing. Although the environment is not always the most peaceful, I had no anxiety regarding these stats. At some point, they are made to be contradicted. »
First qualified for the round of 16 of this World Cup in Qatar, the Blues have lifted the caveat emitted by the sad spirits on his Australian ballad (4-1). Starting with the level of the brave “Socceroos”. Denmark, France knows. If, on an exotic level, the opponent has the effect of an old pair of slippers with seven matches in a first round of the Euro or World Cup since 1984, the partners of Christian Eriksen are semi-finalists of the last European championshipand their collective strength made Didier Deschamps say that she had everything “from an underrated team”.
By dint of disappointing performances, injuries and bad vibes, the France team had ended up becoming “undervalued” on its arrival in Qatar. However, a carriage never quite turns into a pumpkin, especially when its passengers all evolve in the best European clubs. But we doubted perhaps the soul of this team, its identity of play, too, by dint of changes or renunciations of its coach.
Mbappé “wants to mark his mark”
Admittedly, all was not perfect. Jules Koundé is no more reassuring right-back than Benjamin Pavard, for example, and the Danes were not so far from the “hold-up” at 1-1 with this recovery from Martin Braithwaite in the small net of Hugo Lloris. But this modular 4-2-3-1 in 4-3-3 has given confidence and simple principles to this French team who may be traveling with a young card, but with a perceptible determination.
The “old”, but not yet thirty, Raphaël Varane feels and likes this desire to sweat for the neighbor. ” We managed to have this rage to win, this group state of mind, to be solid together, savors the vice-captain, who had almost resigned himself to watching his mates from his living room following a hamstring injury, but eventually recovered in time. We know that then we have quality players who can make the difference, who have the ability to be decisive and hurt the opponent. »
The 29-year-old defender draws the composite portrait of a certain Kylian Mbappé. In the only non-air-conditioned stadium of the tournament, the latter began by cooling Andreas Christensen, very happy with his simple yellow card for his belting of the Parisian launched towards the cages of Kasper Schmeichel (20e). Already a scorer once morest Australia, Mbappé does it once more in the 61ste minute to record French domination. On the left, he forms a new motion already in the majority with Théo Hernandez. The first serves the second who gives it back for a deflected and winning strike.
Christensen’s equalization from a corner almost in stride (68e) was in the end only an incident, before the famous saving thigh. With three goals in two games, Mbappé has Just Fontaine in his sights. Perhaps not his thirteen achievements in 1958 in Sweden, but his title of top scorer of a tournament. The kind of honor that has always been denied to a French since “Justo”.
Moreover, the ambition of the boy does not escape his partners and no one will blame him. ” Kylian, we all know him, in all competitions he wants to make his mark and he is doing it, summarizes Jules Koundé. We are very happy for him because he always contributes to the team. »
Deschamps will be able to rotate once morest Tunisia
With an Antoine Griezmann comfortable with his work overalls in midfield and a Karim Benzema now far from Dohathe idea of a team ready to go belly down to give Mbappé complete freedom is beginning to emerge as a flight plan. “We had to be solid collectively and put the front players in the best possible position so that they might make a difference”, explains Varane.
Despite the use of the plural, we can guess that the sentence applies above all to the prodigy of Bondy. More discreet than once morest Australia, Olivier Giroud was replaced by Marcus Thuram on the hour mark and Ousmane Dembélé does not benefit on his right side from the same freedom of movement (and replacements à la carte) as Mbappé on the left .
« In the offensive field, having Kylian at this level is very important for my team”, forward Didier Deschamps. The ” Very important “ allows us to believe that the France team is gently entering the Mbappé era, as there was a Platini period. Talent, when accompanied by decisive goals, confers a certain freedom.
Mbappé’s double offers one to his coach. The first place almost assured, he has plenty of time to empty his bench to give playing time to his “hairdressers” once morest Tunisia on Wednesday. The tradition pleads for this staff review in the name of the life of the group, to help the replacements to live their condition well and as long as possible. Kylian Mbappé may have to wait for the round of 16 to run his counter. Unless you are very convincing with Didier Deschamps.
A first place almost guaranteed
After its victory once morest Denmark (2-1), France became the first nation on Saturday to qualify for the round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup. First place is also almost assured, with six points in two games. A draw once morest Tunisia is enough for the Blues to finish at the top of this group D. And this remains possible even in the event of defeat. Only a big defeat once morest Tunisia, coupled with a big Australian victory once morest Denmark, might deprive the Blues of first place in favor of Australia. Indeed, the men of Didier Deschamps have a goal difference superior to that of Australia (+ 4 once morest – 2). What to see coming.
