Special Envoy to Faro
If the Blues landed Thursday at the start of the afternoon near Faro, under the sun and the heat of the Algarve, they have an appointment this Friday evening against Gibraltar. A match counting for the Euro 2024 qualifiers which will be followed live with commentary on our Figaro site by Valentin Feuillette as well as on television with our colleagues from TF1 (8:45 p.m.). Whether before, during or after the match, our special correspondent from Le Figaro in Portugal and follower of the French team, Baptiste Desprez, will give you all the information about the selection for this final international sequence of the season.
Very simple. After two victories against the Netherlands (4-0) and Ireland (0-1) last March, the vice-world champions intend to consolidate their first place in group B in qualifying for Euro 2024 (14 June-July 14). Against Gibraltar on Friday and Greece on Monday (8:45 p.m. at the Stade de France), the objective of two victories drives the Blues. Any other result in June for Didier Deschamps’ men would be experienced as a poor performance. The Blues have been warned. No (bad) joke before the holidays.
Not much. Without disrespecting the 201st nation in the world, the France team is boxing in ten categories above its evening opponent. Whether in terms of the history of the two nations of quality or the pool of players, the comparison is not necessary. Never in the past have Gibraltar and France scrapped against each other. With only one player playing abroad, the evening host has among its ranks the oldest player from the continent to play on the international scene. Policeman in the city, Lee Casciaro (41) will live a unique moment against the vice-world champions. Last of the group, Gibraltar began their qualifications with two defeats against Greece (0-3) and the Netherlands (3-0). It is a dwarf of European football that the Blues challenge this Friday evening.
It’s rare enough in Europe to report it, but the meeting was relocated to Faro in southern Portugal. For the simple and good reason that the Gibraltar stadium, which can accommodate 5,000 spectators, is not approved by UEFA to host a match of such a level. To the chagrin of the Gibraltar players, disappointed to have to go abroad to challenge the 2018 world champions. In the stands, this meeting looks like a nice flop with an attendance of… 3000 people. The local public shunned the arrival of the Blues, for the enmity of the Portuguese towards France in this discipline, the price of places sometimes exorbitant and a region less prone to football than Lisbon or Porto. If 1200 French supporters are expected, the enclosure of the Algarve should be painful to see Friday evening.
Few surprises are to be expected from the French coach, who does not intend to collect anything other than six points on this international sequence despite a group slain (Rabiot, replaced by Veretout, withdrew at the start of the week) by a season extendable. A French team is expected in 4-3-3 Friday evening, flexible in 4-2-3-1 in the offensive phase. In front, Olivier Giroud should start with Kylian Mbappé on his left and Kinglsey Coman on his right. In the middle, the Tchouaméni-Camavinga-Griezmann trio is expected. In defense, Ibrahima Konaté and Dayot Upamecano will form the hinge with Benjamin Pavard on the right and Théo Hernandez on the left. And Mike Maignan in goal.
(the probable starting lineup of the Blues: Maignan – Pavard, Konaté, Upamecano, Hernandez-Griezmann, Tchouaméni, Camavinga – Coman, Giroud, Mbappé (cap))
Between serenity and chambering. In any case, this is what comes from the French locker room. Whether at a press conference or during lunches at Clairefontaine, the future of Kylian Mbappé has everyone talking. “You’re the one making the buzz, not him,” Ibrahima Konaté teased on Wednesday. Not necessarily true. Internally, the 24-year-old Parisian, who could have, via his advisers, been quiet during this international sequence by sending the famous letter a week later, did not let anything show. “He’s as usual,” smiled Camavinga on Tuesday. In training, he continued to martyr his ball partners, while chambering each other in a good-natured atmosphere. Friday night, against a weak Gibraltar, he will have plenty of time to pile up goals and improve his counter. Before the (tiring) soap opera resumes.
