The first, crucial step of a road that he hopes will be the longest and most joyous, was taken Thursday evening by the coach of the Blues. By unveiling his list of players for the Euro (June 14-July 14), Didier Deschamps, as always, made people happy and unhappy. From now on, the staff of the world vice-champions only hope for one thing: to avoid a massacre of injured people comparable to that experienced during the World Cup in Qatar (Maignan, Kimpembe, Pogba, Kanté, Nkunku, L. Hernandez, Benzema), between now and the start of the gathering, scheduled for May 29 in Clairefontaine. Everywhere in Europe, and even elsewhere, the selected Blues must give one last push. “D.D.” knows it and keeps his fingers crossed.
In a far too full international calendar, with sometimes unnecessary competitions or “exhibition” matches, Deschamps and his deputies have been thinking for months about the best (or less bad) program to put in place between now and the first match of the Euro , on June 17, against Austria, in Düsseldorf (then Netherlands on the 21st and Poland on the 25th), while respecting the constraints imposed by UEFA. In particular the obligation to organize two friendly matches before leaving for Germany, when the France team only wanted one. It will therefore be Luxembourg in Metz and Canada in Bordeaux, on June 5 and 9. “It’s hard to find opponents who suit us,” whispers the coach in office since 2012. “Because some nations are not available, others do not want to face us… or we don’t want to either. »
The vast majority of the France group will meet again at the end of May, but some internationals will be absent due to the Dortmund-Real Madrid Champions League final, while others (Maignan, Giroud, Hernandez) risk being… in Perth, in Australia, to play a friendly match with AC Milan against AS Roma on May 31! So many hours by plane for a meeting of such importance… The joys of football business. A situation which annoys the Blues staff to the highest degree. Which is understandable. And, as Fifa only requires players to be present for the selection on June 3, the clubs remain the bosses until this date. The main parties involved are delighted with such a trip, but remain silent towards their employer. For his part, Deschamps took his side. One more annoyance, even if the preparation will still be longer than that offered before Qatar, with eight days in total.
Faced with these constraints, the Blues, who remain eliminated in the round of 16 of the last Euro, against Switzerland, will remain in Clairefontaine during their training. No travel to the provinces outside of the two matches, the staff wants to take full advantage of the facilities of the National Technical Center. As before each major international competition and at the end of extended seasons, the priority will be to repair worn-out bodies, to observe players with uncertain physique and to psychologically revive elements weakened by a season that is not always up to par.
Without forgetting the management of the players targeted by the transfer window, in particular a certain Kylian Mbappé, captain of the selection, expected at Real Madrid in the coming days. If he says he doesn’t read anything, Deschamps knows everything. Above all. And, on this subject, he already knows most of the details. Another certainty, the French clan will join Germany and its base camp at Bad Lippspringe, located near Paderborn, on June 12.