The attack of the French team which should start against Greece on Monday will be different from that against Gibraltar. With the exception of Kylian Mbappé, the only assured holder of the offensive line.
A few more months ago, “all countries envied” the attack of the France team, as headlined by the daily The Team. The Karim Benzema-Antoine Griezmann-Kylian Mbappé trio had indeed something to dream about a lot of selections on the planet. But since the World Cup in Qatar, the first has retired from international duty, the second has been replaced as torchbearer by Didier Deschamps while the last, irremovable, has become captain.
Mbappé, with his new prerogatives, is the one around which the coach wants to build the future. While the France team is to face Greece on Monday June 19, uncertainty reigns over the identity of the holders who will accompany the number 10 of the Blues on the offensive front. If in defense and in the middle, potential holders are gradually emerging, Deschamps is still groping for the positions of center forward and right winger. Four players stand in a handkerchief to secure a starting spot.
At the top striker position, Randal Kolo Muani and Olivier Giroud alternate. Between the new and the old, the heart of Deschamps swings at the start of the year 2023, according to the adversaries faced. Olivier Giroud started against Ireland (1-0) and against Gibraltar (3-0), two opponents with low blocks against whom he had to show his power in the opposing area. Author of a good end to the season with AC Milan, the top scorer in the history of the Blues (54 goals) remains essential.
“Kolo Muani is constantly improving”
Kolo Muani, on the other hand, is more of a movement striker. “It’s very good to have different profiles”, welcomes Didier Deschamps. In reality, the coach certainly wants to start a new cycle in anticipation of Euro 2024, when Giroud will be 37 years old. The performances of the ex-Nantais on the side of Eintracht Frankfurt (23 goals and 17 assists in 46 games) caught the eye of several “big clubs for next season”, as confirmed by the coach. Kolo Muani appears as Giroud’s designated successor.
But to win permanently at the forefront, the 24-year-old striker will have to score with the Blues. Scorer against Morocco in the semi-final of the World Cup (2-0), Kolo Muani has not found the opening since, in four games with the Blues. “I remain confident, I feel that my moment will come. I don’t want to rush not to do things wrong“, he said on June 14.
“Randal is constantly improving”, reassures Deschamps, who should establish him against Greece. His captain Mbappé, like him a native of Bondy, dubbed him in March: “He is technically complete, brings a lot of energy, with an impressive volume of races. It’s a new string to our bow.” Both represent the future of the French team in attack. But with which teammate on the right wing?
Coman and Dembele still on waivers
Kingsley Coman and Ousmane Dembélé apply to complete the trio. But both have never convinced over time. Against Gibraltar, Coman was decisive for the first time with the Blues since November 2021 and a match against another small selection, Kazakhstan (8-0). With 5 goals and 4 assists in 48 selections, the winger is very far from his standards with Bayern Munich.
The situation is similar for Dembélé (4 goals, 3 assists in 36 caps). The Barça winger, tipped to start against Greece on Monday, also often has to deal with injuries. Holder at the World Cup, he had started the competition well before being less decisive from the round of 16. France have held two of the most confusing wingers in the world for years, but the nuggets are now in the prime of life (27 for Coman, 26 for Dembélé).
Their irregularity with the Blues continues to disappoint. “These are players who destabilize the opponent, who create a lot of differences. (…) They can statistically improve or enhance what they can do”, recognizes Didier Deschamps. In other words, score more or deliver more assists. In this position, Coman like Dembélé are ahead of the competition, represented mainly by Moussa Diaby, who has never scored in Blue.
This match against Greece, second in Group B behind France in these Euro 2024 qualifiers, will be a good opportunity for the two evening starters to stand out in Deschamps’ mind. For the moment, the coach is spoiled for choice and takes advantage of it. Time and meetings will allow him to refine a typical offensive line, working around Kylian Mbappé to aim for the final victory in the European Championship, in a year in Germany.