On the lawn of the Stade de France, Sunday, Ibrahima Konaté has, as very often, a smile on his face. The Liverpool defender, who had his first selection on Friday against Austria, may train away from the group, with the risk of not starting against Croatia on Monday June 13, his good mood does not leave him . This had irradiated the auditorium of the Poljud stadium last Tuesday, the day after the first leg against Croatia.
His ability to respond to media requests was one of the most refreshing moments of a June rally for the moment very gloomy for the France team. The latter must end her June tour with her match against Croatia on Monday, with the aim of ending a series of three games without a win, which had not happened to her since Euro 2021.
In the event of a negative result against Croatia tonight, France would continue with a fourth unsuccessful match, which has only happened once in ten years with Didier Deschamps on the bench for Les Bleus, between June and September 2013. He This would be a first over such a tight period when at the time, the France team had chained more than 500 minutes without finding the net. At least, right now, the Blues are scoring. Like the sores elsewhere, which punctuated this gathering and played a key role in the results.
Raphaël Varane and N’Golo Kanté thus left the group, while Kylian Mbappé was hampered by his knee. At the start of the gathering, Deschamps, touched by the mourning of the death of his father, had to leave the group for several days. A news that obviously affected the staff and the players. Minds and bodies touched, nothing seemed to spare the Blues during the last two weeks.
“There was accumulated fatigue for some with a very big season, others with a certain decompression with successes or others, and from one match to another, small glitches that came to be added”, explained Deschamps yesterday at a press conference. Again on Sunday, six players did not participate in the collective session. “We coaches should all complain, because having four games in that period increases the difficulties”, added the boss of the Blues.
The Blues are back in France, take the trip with them! ✈️ #ProudToBeBlues
→ https://t.co/joIVzSRzT1 pic.twitter.com/9FXulEboYT
— French team ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) June 11, 2022
Despite the accumulation of matches and the negative results, the tricolors do not forget their objective for this Monday, as Deschamps recalled: “Winning against Croatia.” After three days, France is last in its group and must react if it does not want to be relegated and risk ending up in the second hat in the draw for the qualifying rounds for the next Euro on October 9.
To the three negative results of the last ten days is therefore added the pressure of having to impose oneself. “Of course we are thinking about relegation. We know that the France team should not be in this place. It’s a very, very important match”, insisted Presnel Kimpembe at a press conference on Sunday, he who will be captain like last week in Split, during the first leg against the Croats.
Being back at home, in a sold-out Stade de France, after the sweltering heat of the Adriatic coast and the grayness of Vienna, could help. But we will have to do more and better, as Kylian Mbappé explained after the match at the Ernst-Happel stadium in Austria: “We didn’t win, we didn’t take what we wanted before the game and so we will work and try to win on Monday.”
And the PSG striker adds: “Never worry, always be proud.” Same story at Kimpembe yesterday: “Even if these are more difficult times than others, everything is good to take. That’s how we move forward. You always have to look forward and have a positive side.” The tricolors therefore remain optimistic despite a rally for the moment tinged with disappointment.
Some players haven’t fully seized their chance and doubts have emerged over the tactical system that will be used at the World Cup in five months. But these experiences will not be too much when approaching the World Cup. After this match against Croatia, there will be two against Austria and Denmark in September. Before that, we will therefore have to win this Monday.
Referring to his personal case and his knee discomfort, Mbappé assured after the match against Austria that“There’s only one match left and then it’s the holidays. So we can force a little”. His teammates will certainly share the same desire to correct things tonight. A success would make it possible to forget the small glitches of this gathering, and to go on vacation with a little lighter spirit, the confidence found in the suitcases.