The end clap is approaching. Imminently. The French team is playing the last match of its very long season against Greece on Monday evening in Saint-Denis as part of the Euro 2024 qualifiers. and with our colleagues from TF1.
Consolidate first place in Group B and get a little closer to qualifying for Euro 2024. By dominating Greece, second in the pool with two wins in two games (against Gibraltar 3-0 and Ireland 2 -1), the Blues would make the pass of four (Netherlands, Ireland, Gibraltar were beaten) and would fly away mathematically against a direct opponent. A victory would conclude a successful year in terms of statistics (9 wins, 1 draw, 2 losses for 25 goals scored and 10 conceded before Monday evening) with inevitably the World Cup final lost against Argentina in all heads. But before thinking about holidays and fine sand, Mbappé’s band must do the job and sweep the 52nd nation in the world in a Stade de France which will be sold out.
“I’m not going to do rotations to do rotations. “With his usual pre-match eloquence, Didier Deschamps tried to drown the fish Sunday afternoon in a press conference. If Mike Maignan and Dayot Upamecano, spared against Gibraltar (0-3), will be back in the starting lineup, doubts remain for the rest of the starting team. Under a downpour with the rest of his group on Sunday evening during the match watch session, the boss of the Blues did not give any clues. Randal Kolo Muani and Ousmane Dembélé could replace Olivier Giroud and Kingsley Coman, holders against Gibraltar on Friday (0-3).
The probable starting lineup of the France team: Maignan – Pavard, Konaté, Upamecano, T. Hernandez – Griezmann, Tchouaméni, Camavinga – Dembélé, Kolo Muani, Mbappé (cap).
A second-rate opponent. Absent from all international competitions since the World Cup in Brazil in 2014, Greece is in the soft underbelly of the national selections with a 52nd place in the FIFA rankings. Between Slovakia and Mali… With 7 coaches used in 10 years, the 2004 European champion is trying to revive himself with Gustavo Poyet, the ephemeral former coach of the Girondins de Bordeaux (7 months in 2018). So far, two wins in two matches against Gibraltar (0-3) and Ireland (2-1). Enough to believe in the qualification for Euro 2024 where the first two of the group will be directly in Germany next summer.
Just a rolling question. And the desire for Kylian Mbappé not to vampirize the news of the France team, leaving room for his vice-captain. Target of all attention since last Friday and the start of the selection rally, the captain of the Blues gave up the jump seat in a pre-match press conference to his “deputy” Antoine Griezmann. The latter, very discreet in the media, had things to say. In particular to reiterate his love for the selection, his wish to continue his career with the blue jersey and his desire to participate in the Olympic Games in 2024. In the end, everyone was happy. Mbappé was able to breathe after an intense media week, Griezmann delivered a few messages and the followers of the Blues were able to chat with the vice-captain.
From the final whistle on Monday evening, the 23 members of the France group will begin their summer vacation. Most internationals will leave the capital a few hours after the meeting by taking private planes. On the program, holidays with family and friends around the world before returning to training in early or mid-July. The start of the selection is scheduled for September 4 at Clairefontaine, while Didier Deschamps could reveal his choices on August 31. On the program, France-Ireland on the 7th at the Parc des Princes, counting for the Euro 2024 qualifiers, then a trip to Dortmund as part of a friendly against Germany on September 12th. In October, a trip to the Netherlands on October 13 is planned, still in the qualifying phase, then a friendly match against Scotland on the lawn of Lille four days later.
