The festival against South Africa ended (5-0), the Pierre-Mauroy stadium sings the song which the Blues will still be able to enjoy for at least eight months: “World champions, world champions!“The 48,120 spectators present on Tuesday March 29 on the occasion of the victory of the Tricolores against Bafana Bafana saw the good version of the France team. The one who did not doubt, as against Côte d’Ivoire (2-1), against a weak South Africa.
From this friendly match, we will especially remember the XXL performance of Kylian Mbappé but other lessons can be learned from the two friendly matches as a whole. Didier Deschamps, who wanted to see the “maximum number of people“On this March rally, several lines of thought were offered, beyond the executives whose presence is assured, before the next June rally. Already the penultimate before the start of the World Cup.
They scored points
How not to mention in the first place the case ofOlivier Giroud ? Absent from all the France squad lists since the Euros, the second top scorer in Les Bleus history has likely caused future headaches for Deschamps. In two games, both as a starter, Giroud has overturned the table with two goals and his presence in the next June list, if he continues to play as regularly with AC Milan, seems already acquired.
At the start of the rally, the coach highlighted the “status” by Giroud, yet to be defined. “He confirmed that when he is there, he has this ability to score. It’s good for the group“, explained Deschamps at a press conference on Tuesday. This status seems clear: the striker with 48 goals in Blue is the alternative solution behind the Griezmann-Mbappé-Benzema trio. As at the Euro, in short. impression, therefore, of having lost a few months in this story.
In the middle of the field, Aurelien Tchouameni only needed one match, where he offered victory against Côte d’Ivoire, to assert himself as number 3 behind the N’Golo Kanté-Paul Pogba duo. “It’s high level, it has enormous potential with a lot of control“, underlined Deschamps after the match against Ivory Coast. Absent against South Africa due to a fever, the Monegasque (eight selections) is already essential.
Regarding the pistons of his 3-4-1-2, or his “lane players“, as Deschamps calls them, the coach will be able to be satisfied with the back-to-back performances of Theo Hernandez and Lucas Worthy. The first “did Theo“, as Deschamps had described after Côte d’Ivoire, showing himself to be constantly dangerous offensively, but a little in difficulty defensively. Digne was on his side very clean against the South Africans, while also bringing in the 30 last meters, in front of his former public.
They will be seen again
Three newcomers made their debut with the France team during this rally in March, with varying fortunes. After a first dream selection on Friday against his Marseille audience against Côte d’Ivoire, William Saliba lived a first tenure in Blue rather quiet against South Africa. The Marseillais was content to manage the duels, without taking too many risks when restarting. A sector in which he will have to show himself more to earn a place in this group. Deschamps nevertheless saluted “his Olympian calm“.
Jonathan Clauss also experienced two first special selections. Heckled by the public at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium, whistled and then applauded as he left the pitch, he showed himself to be enterprising. So much so that we saw Antoine Griezmann tell him to calm things down at times. “I told him not to play with the handbrake“, explained Deschamps. Clauss executed himself, was sometimes rough but showed that he could be a credible replacement solution for Kingsley Coman. Perhaps more than Léo Dubois in this position.
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Christopher Nkunku is the one who had the most complicated beginnings. Holder against Côte d’Ivoire, he was too tender compared to his exceptional performance with Leipzig. “It will need to be reviewed“, assured Deschamps on Friday. Also to review, the duel at the post of central defender left axis. Lucas Hernández was in difficulty against the Ivorians and has been for some time in the France team. Presnel Kimpembe answered him with a solid performance against South Africa on Tuesday.
They only had crumbs
And have sometimes been able to put them to good use. This was the case of Matteo Guendouzi. Only 30 minutes of play over the two games but the Marseille midfielder was decisive each time in added time. A decisive pass in the 90th + 3 to snatch the victory against Côte d’Ivoire and a nice goal – his first in selection – in the 90th + 2 against South Africa. With competition fierce in midfield, Guendouzi certainly scored points in the head of Deschamps, who underlined his “maturity“.
Wissam Ben Yedder too. We wondered a bit about his role with the Blues when Giroud, called up at the last minute, passed him in both games in the starting lineup. “Wissam has a legitimate right to be disappointed. But it has no impact, when he returns, he is a decisive player“, explained Deschamps after the match against South Africa. Against the Bafana Bafana, the Monegasque striker had a small release: he scored for the first time with the Blues in two and a half years, his third goal in selection.
In the very last moments of the 40 minutes he spent on the pitch in both games, Ben Yedder may have saved his place for the next rally in June. Because it will be necessary to count with the return of Karim Benzema in the 23. Moussa Diaby could pay for it. The Bayer Leverkusen striker played just 25 minutes against the South Africans – several of them as a right piston – and aside from a sprint down the side, he didn’t have time to shine.