Special envoy to Villeneuve d’Ascq
The turnover is not as significant as expected. As we announced to you Monday evening, Didier Deschamps decided to make four changes in his starting lineup compared to the victory against the Netherlands on Friday evening (1-2). Against Scotland (9 p.m.) this Tuesday at the Pierre Mauroy stadium, Benjamin Pavard, Eduardo Camavinga, Ousmane Dembélé and Olivier Giroud replace Lucas Hernandez, Adrien Rabiot, Kingsley Coman and Randal Kolo Muani.
Last month, between the success against Ireland (2-0) and the defeat in Germany (2-1), the coach made six changes, without the expected result. Worse, the Blues, unable to respond to the German challenge, missed out on their friendly meeting in Dortmund. Deschamps didn’t like it, he tried to rectify it. Tuesday against the Scots, the ambition is to offer a coherent package to the 50,000 spectators expected in the North. If he had not experienced controversy with his “nervous laughter” during the minute of silence in Amsterdam, Jean-Clair Todibo could have claimed a starting place after his first failed selection last month. But in the French team, the less waves you make, the more likely you are to last…
In defense, it will be interesting to see the production of Jonathan Clauss, attractive on Friday with Coman in front of him, who for the first time makes two starts in a row for the selection. In the event of a consistent performance on Tuesday, the road to the Euro would be clear. In the center, Benjamin Pavard, passes a big test and must score points after years spent in the right lane.
In the middle, the Tchouameni-Griezmann-Camavinga trio knows what to expect, while Giroud, surrounded by Mbappé and Dembélé, repelled the Thuram threat. Anxious to manage fitness levels and not to fall out with certain clubs, Deschamps will rotate in the second half if the scenario allows him. The opportunity for the replacements (Gusto, Todibo, Fofana, Kamara, Thuram…) to show themselves. In view of the Euro, the smallest detail counts.
The Blues’ 11 against Scotland: Maignan – Clauss, Konaté, Pavard, T. Hernandez – Tchouaméni, Griezmann, Camavinga – Dembélé, Giroud, Mbappé.