Tuesday evening after the final whistle at the Pierre Mauroy stadium and once the media obligations had been validated, the entire French team dispersed. Some staying there with friends and families, others leaving directly for Paris like Didier Deschamps and Guy Stéphan, while most of the internationals were already on the plane chartered by their clubs to optimize recovery time. The Blues now have an appointment in November with the reception of Gibraltar in Nice and the trip to Athens against Greece (18th and 21st). On this successful rally with qualification for the Euro validated following the victory against the Netherlands (1-2) and the Scottish friendly trip (4-1), the results are shared at the individual level. Some leave with a smile and a feeling of accomplishment, others with regrets after missed opportunities. Inventory.
“When an opportunity presents itself, you have to seize it because the competition is there, for every position. » Didier Deschamps repeats it every time and hammers it home to his players. In this little game, Benjamin Pavard (27 years old, 52 caps) emerges from the blue sequence with a new costume. That of the central defender wanting to shake up the hierarchy in this sector of play. The Northerner, author of a double (5 goals in Blue, one more than Dembélé and one less than Coman) and a full match against Scotland on Tuesday evening, met the expectations of his coach who established him for the first time in his favorite position. “Everyone saw what my best position was,” he smiled after the match, sending a message to his boss. In an ultra-competitive playing sector (Upamecano, Konaté, L. Hernandez, Saliba, Disasi, Lukeba, Todibo, Fofana, Kimpembe, Badiashile…), he struck a big blow with his 52 caps. With his experience, his qualities and his versatility, the Milanese, who finished with the captain’s armband in front of the French public, offers a new headache to “DD”.
SEE ALSO – Pavard after France-Scotland (4-1): “We did not take this match lightly”
If he was less visible on the right side against Scotland than against the Netherlands, the fault also lies in a non-existent relationship with Ousmane Dembélé disappointing Tuesday, Jonathan Clauss (31 years old, 8 caps) emerges from the gathering strengthened . Defensively, what Deschamps expects from him as a priority, he reassured with a good reading of the game and interesting coverage. To be confirmed with larger clients. Offensively, especially in Amsterdam, he showed obvious qualities of overflow, percussion and technical ease in the last pass like his offering for Mbappé. To be reviewed, but the road to the Euro has become clear. Already a first victory.
A little further up the field, Kingsley Coman (27 years old, 53 caps) is also the big winner of October. In Amsterdam, he combined perfectly with Clauss, in an intelligent duo, respectful of the instructions but also very impactful with numerous duplications. In a “finisher” role at Villeneuve d’Ascq, he came on on the hour mark and scored on his first action, before passing on Thuram’s crossbar. An appearance full of freshness and cheek, much appreciated by Deschamps. “I don’t live for goals,” he confided in a long interview with Le Figaro last Friday. In ten days, he will have demonstrated his full range and confirmed that a starting place at the Euro, if he maintains his standards, is open to him.
Randal Kolo Muani (24 years old, 12 caps) is going through an ordinary start to the season between his transfer to Paris SG where he is not an indisputable starter and his appearances in the French team for the most part disappointing, even insignificant. Whether in Germany last month or Friday in Amsterdam, the former Nantes player did not achieve much attractiveness in the number 9 position. His luck also lies in the fact that Olivier Giroud did not shine either. more on Tuesday against Scotland. Competition remains complete in this sector, where Marcus Thuram was sharper over a short period of time at the Pierre Mauroy stadium. “Randal doesn’t do everything well,” Deschamps adjusts. He is judged on his efficiency (1 goal in 12 caps) and he has a good margin of progress at this level, he knows it. » Simple temporary insufficiency or deeper limits at this level in pure axial attacking? It’s up to him to dispel doubts in the club and in the selection in the weeks to come.
Starting Tuesday evening against the Scots, Ousmane Dembélé (26 years old, 40 caps) looked like he was having bad days when he was caught by Mike Maignan in the second half after a bad choice. Its overall copy is insignificant, a real and immense disappointment. Almost no difference with the ball and little risk-taking against second-zone adversity, the right winger appeared ghostly and lost points in the duel he fought with Coman. If he had not had his thigh problem, he would have started in Amsterdam for the match that counts, a sign of renewed confidence from the staff.
Also read “It’s unacceptable, we don’t give a 3”: Deschamps deciphers Camavinga’s note
Even if Didier Deschamps came to his aid in a sequence with our television colleagues, Eduardo Camavinga (20 years old, 13 caps) missed his northern meeting. Beyond his missed pass which opened the Scottish score, impossible to see at this level, the Madrilenian did not have the expected influence between inaccuracies and hesitations. He has exceptional qualities, but as in Germany, he has not yet given complete satisfaction over time in the French team, which in no way calls his presence into play in the group as he is ahead of its direct competitors (Kamara, Fofana, Veretout, Guendouzi, etc.)
Asked Tuesday evening about a possible punishment of Jean-Clair Todibo (23 years old, 1 selection), who remained on the bench against Scotland while his tenure was whispered after the Netherlands, the coach denied this hypothesis. “It’s not a sanction even if, when in doubt, it is better to avoid it on an evening like that,” he explains, having preferred to offer Castello Lukeba his first cape. There are two or three (in the audience) who could have whistled. » However, after his “nervous laughter” in the Netherlands during the minute of silence, the Nice native made people talk about him in a bad way. Off the field. Everything Deschamps hates. Not very smart considering the competition for this position.
