In an hour, twenty-five names announced on the TF1 set and a few answers given to journalists in the auditorium of the first channel, Didier Deschamps changed everything. By unveiling, Wednesday, November 9, his list of players selected for the World Cup in Qatar (November 20-December 18), the coach has reshuffled the cards of a France team which has lived everything for a year and a half.
From the failure at Euro 2021 to the numerous injuries that forced Deschamps to make strong choices, including success in the League of Nations, the coach has laid the groundwork for a team that will be, on November 22 during the match against Australia, very different from what we are used to seeing.
The three-defender system is over
Only one being is missing, and everything is turned upside down. When the names of the players called up appeared, the absence of that of Jonathan Clauss immediately signed the death warrant of the system with three defenders. And if there was any doubt, Didier Deschamps took it upon himself to explain at a press conference that the absence of the right side from Olympique de Marseille, and the structure of the list, announced a change: “There is no doubt. We will start with a four-man defense. As far as Clauss is concerned, the system is the main reason.“
Introduced over time from the “final four” of the League of Nations, won by France in October 2021, this system with three defenders was to be the one used by the Blues in Qatar. “It is a long reflection, after the analysis of what we have done with this system. I also considered the feelings of certain players. We have done very good things in this system. But we were also in difficulty. We were very often out of balance, even if we reversed situations. In a big competition, it can’t make us win“, explained the coach.
At the June rally, the four-man system had made a one-off return, at the request of players exhausted by a long season, who saw the three-man system as too energy-intensive. In September, the hinge with three defenders had still been too feverish. Deschamps therefore made the choice to abandon her, when he announced that he could count on Presnel Kimpembe and Raphaël Varane for the first match. On the sides, Deschamps was safe.
Versatile full-backs, inexperienced midfielder
The question came back more than once to the ears of Didier Deschamps: why did you call only one full-back, namely Théo Hernandez, and eight defenders who play regularly in the axis in the club? In fact, the coach explained that they will be four to be able to evolve on the defensive sides: Benjamin Pavard and Jules Koundé on the right, Lucas Hernandez and his brother Théo on the left.
“Regarding Jules and Benjamin, I had long discussions with them and they know what I expect of them“, explained Deschamps, while the two have never hidden their preference to play in the axis of defense. By choosing not to retain Jonathan Clauss, Ferland Mendy or Lucas Digne, Deschamps returns to the classic To a more solid defensive base, less forward-oriented, especially if Lucas Hernandez starts as a left-back, as in 2018, in place of Theo, who is much more offensive.
“They are different profiles, Deschamps said of the two Hernandez brothers. If I make this choice, it is because I consider that they provide more guarantees in competition compared to Ferland Mendy and Lucas Digne.“This search for balance temporarily puts an end to the Deschamps who had manifested himself for more than a year through tactical experiments and surprises in the choice of players.
She could also reshuffle the cards in midfield. By summoning six players in this sector, the coach may have chosen to go back to three midfielders at the start of the competition. But between them, Adrien Rabiot, Mattéo Guendouzi, Youssouf Fofana, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Jordan Veretout and Eduardo Camavinga have only 60 selections in total.
An inexperience which could penalize the Blues, who had won the title of world champion in 2018 partly thanks to the duo N’Golo Kanté-Paul Pogba, packages for this World Cup. “I trust my six midfielders, they got what it takes“, assured the coach. To know how they will evolve, we must finally look at the offensive animation. Deschamps could be led to redo Deschamps, by summoning the magic recipe of 2018.
The return of 4-2-3-1, Rabiot new Matuidi?
For more than a year, Deschamps has explained that the adoption of the three-man system should make it possible to bring the attacking trio Antoine Griezmann-Karim Benzema-Kylian Mbappé closer on the field. On Wednesday, the coach didn’t really want to go into the details of the new offensive animation: “One of the three going to one side is an option. There are others.” Listening to him a few minutes later, the 4-2-3-1 of 2018 seemed to resurface.
“The balance is more random with four offensive players over 90 minutes. It could be an option but we won’t have studs opposite. (…) It is not because you are going to put more attackers that you are going to score more goals“, explained Deschamps, as if to evacuate the possibility of starting a Kingsley Coman or an Ousmane Dembélé from the start. So, switch to 4-3-3, or 4-2-3-1?
Adrien Rabiot, who owns “a wider palette thanks to its development“, could recover the role of Blaise Matuidi, left midfielder in the 4-2-3-1 of 2018. The Juventus midfielder has already played in this position with the Blues on several occasions, notably last June against Croatia. It remains to organize the Griezmann-Benzema-Mbappé trio, while the last, who would evolve on the right as in 2018, has not played in this position for some time.
The coach, who could also opt for a diamond midfielder, assured him: “I know today how we will start against Australia, provided that nothing negative happens.“There is indeed a weekend of competition left, before next Monday’s meeting at Clairefontaine. An injury to one of the 25 called up would obviously be bad news. It could, again, reshuffle the cards ten days before the start of the World Cup. .