The France team has not conceded a single goal in its last five matches and hopes to continue this series in the friendly match against Germany on Tuesday in Dortmund.
Five victories in as many matches, eleven goals scored and zero conceded. The French team is doing well in 2023, to the point of having achieved a small honorary record on Thursday following the victory over Ireland (2-0). She had never gone five competitive matches in a row without conceding a goal. Certainly, the record of eleven consecutive matches – between June 2003 and June 2004, including friendlies – is still far away, but the statistics reveal that this team quickly digested the defeat in the World Cup final in Qatar.
An impermeability which delights his former defensive midfielder as coach, even if, true to form, he played it sober in the stands of the Parc des Princes on Thursday, contenting himself with: “It’s a plus”. A big plus, symbolizing a small feat: achieving a smooth transition despite the international retirements of Hugo Lloris and Raphaël Varane, two pillars of the Blues’ defense for almost ten years. During the five post-World Cup matches, the French defense was rarely found wanting. Notably because she knew how to press her opponents very high in their camp.
In defense, “everyone is concerned”
Risk-taking measured by the coach: “We have the ability to have defenders who are very solid one on one.” Dayot Upamecano, new boss of the central hinge with Ibrahima Konaté – injured and absent during this gathering – proved it against Ireland by cutting off all possibilities of counter-attack with authority. Lucas Hernandez, back from injury , also has this profile.
The depth in central defense (William Saliba, Axel Disasi, Jean-Clair Todibo…), with players capable of defending by advancing, should allow the Blues to continue to be dominant, preventing opponents from approaching the goals from Mike Maignan. The current stability also owes to the profile of Jules Koundé and Benjamin Pavard, the two right-backs – who play in the center at the club – who compensate for the numerous rises on the left side of Théo Hernandez.
After the victory against Ireland, Deschamps recalled “that it is not just the defensive sector. Everyone is concerned about losing the ball.”. The midfielder is also precious and Aurélien Tchouameni suffered a lot against Ireland. At the hour mark on the Parc des Princes pitch, we saw the Real Madrid player in deep discussion with Mike Maignan, to optimize the placement of the midfielders and avoid any flaws in the French defense.
Maignan, the last rampart
The AC Milan goalkeeper is obviously the last, hitherto intractable, pillar of the French rearguard. Without him, the Blues would have conceded at least one goal in the last five games. Maignan thus saved a penalty against the Netherlands, before making an exceptional save at the end of the match against Ireland in March (1-0) and another great save against the Boys in Green last Thursday.
“I’m not going to take the credit away from Mike either“, underlined Deschamps last Thursday. The mandate of “Magic Mike” could not have started better, and in nine selections, the goalkeeper has six clean sheets. He could, however, be put to greater use on Tuesday against Germany. future host country of Euro 2024 is going through a sporting crisis but still has dangerous players.
Above all, it could impose phases of play where France will have to defend in its last 30 meters, which it has almost not had to do in the last five matches. It will then be interesting to see the behavior of the French rearguard. Despite the difficulties of the German players, “I know that there will be responders and that they will do everything to have the best result“, assured Didier Deschamps on Monday at a press conference. The coach, like his defense, is aiming for a sixth clean sheet in a row.