The setting is idyllic, a perfect vacation spot on the Adriatic Coast near Split, Croatia’s stronghold of nightlife. But the players of the France team will not be able to take advantage of it. After losing to Denmark on Friday (1-2) on the first day of the League of Nations, the Blues still have three games to play before blowing a big blow and taking some time for them. The first of these three matches takes place on Monday, June 6, against Croatia, in the charm of the dilapidated Poljud Stadium.
Sunday, the Tricolores discovered the moist atmosphere and the stifling heat of Split, twenty-four hours after suffering a deluge in training at the Stade de France. A striking change of context, not necessarily appreciated by the ailing bodies of the players at the end of the season. A strong rotation is thus expected on Monday for this match against the Croats, compared to the starting eleven against Denmark.
Between Côte d’Ivoire and South Africa in March, Didier Deschamps made eight changes. These were friendly matches. This time, it is in official competition – a rare fact – that the coach, who has found his players after four days of mourning, should make at least seven changes. Hugo Lloris will thus be on the bench, replaced by Mike Maignan. In the absence of the captain at kick-off, Presnel Kimpembe will wear the armband.
“There is fatigue, wear and tear“, assured Didier Deschamps, Sunday, in a press conference, before expanding on the subject: “The bodies are tired and there is also the psychological aspect, with players who have reached a goal at the end of their season, and who therefore have a small phenomenon of decompression.“The time has come to give playing time to some players who have had little during the last rallies, especially in the offensive sector (Wissam Ben Yedder, Christopher Nkunku, Moussa Diaby).
The desire to show off these players who are still little used by the Blues, with the aim of appearing on the list for the World Cup, could bring a touch of freshness to the France team. Who really needs it. Other breathless selections at the end of the season also suffered surprise defeats, a sign that everyone is sticking their tongues out: Belgium was thus crushed by the Netherlands (1-4) and England defeated. in Hungary (0-1).
3️⃣3️⃣ 8️⃣6️⃣9️⃣ seats.
The Poljud Stadium will be sold out tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/acPYPSm7ma
— French team ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) June 5, 2022
On the eve of the game against Denmark, Guy Stéphan described “a threshold of 55 games not to be exceeded to avoid injuries“. This season, the nineteen outfield players on the current list have played an average of 53 games. Enough for Raphaël Varane to injure his muscles and leave the group prematurely, for Kylian Mbappé to complain of his knee and for four other players ( N’Golo Kanté, Karim Benzema, Jules Koundé and Kingsley Coman) do not train on Sunday.
“We players are adapting“with a very busy schedule, assured Lloris on the eve of the match against Denmark. Even if it means, sometimes, pulling too much on the rope and getting injured. So the staff of the Blues took things in hand and decided to rotate on the three following matches, against Croatia, Monday, then Austria in Vienna, next Friday, and again Croatia at the Stade de France.
The importance of this meeting against Croatia, which could already be decisive for the classification of this group 1 of the League of Nations, has not changed much in the reflection of Didier Deschamps and his deputy Guy Stéphan, who said after the defeat against Denmark: “Didier had said that there would be rotation and there will be, in fact. It is necessary, in this complicated calendar, to ensure that the players are ready to play these different matches and express themselves without risk of injury.“
This revamped French team will face Croatia on Monday evening. A much less dangerous team than in 2018, when they lost in the World Cup final against France. At the same time as the Habs lost on Friday, the Croats fell to Austria at home near Osijek (0-3). Even with a private team of several indisputable holders, the France team is therefore slightly favorite.
To follow up with a second defeat would cause new doubts among the Blues who have not been quite calm in defense lately, only a few months and four games away from the World Cup in Qatar (November 21-December 18). This would give another importance to the last two meetings of this gathering, during which other players will still have the opportunity to shine.