Defense overwhelmed, team reshuffled… Why the French team took a slap against Italy

The French team lost to Italy on the first day of the Nations League, Friday at the Parc des Princes (1-3).

A brilliant Euro defensively, but with very few goals scored. And a cracking start with a goal in the thirteenth second, but three goals conceded afterwards. To start a new cycle after a disappointing competition this summer, the Blues did not reassure against an Italy team that was not brilliant but efficient, Friday September 6 (1-3) at the Parc des Princes.

Taking into account the different fitness levels of his players, Didier Deschamps made a few changes to his starting eleven. The central hinge that was so solid at the Euro, William Saliba – Dayot Upamecano, was not renewed, and Saliba thus formed a pair with Ibrahima Konaté. On the right side, Jonathan Clauss replaced Jules Koundé, who also excelled in Germany. For a disappointing result, with for example a marking error by Ibrahima Konaté on Davide Frattesi, the second Italian scorer, and another error by Saliba on the third Italian goal. Result, three goals conceded in one evening, as many as in the entire Euro.

“By not putting the team that could have the status of starter, in inverted commas, it harms the collective performance. The four starters who played in the Euro in defense obviously have benchmarks, but I consider that it is the moment to give playing time to as many players as possible with two close matches. We paid dearly for it and it is my responsibility,” assured Didier Deschamps at a press conference after the match.

In midfield, Didier Deschamps had opted for a pair of N’Golo Kanté – Youssouf Fofana, in the absence of Adrien Rabiot, not selected because he had no club, and Aurélien Tchouameni, injured. And the two did not have the same strength as during the Euro, Fofana even being at fault for the second goal by losing a ball in midfield. The same goes for Antoine Griezmann, although he was lined up in his preferred position, behind the scorer.

“I knew that we were far, athletically, from being at our best. We put a lot of pressure on the opponent at the start of the match, and it was more complicated to maintain that intensity throughout the match.”

Didier Deschamps, coach of the French team

at a press conference

In their defensive duties, these men were not helped by the high positioning of the attackers, Kylian Mbappé, Bradley Barcola and the newcomer, Michael Olise, lined up on the right in place of Ousmane Dembélé. “Moving forward, we had a more stretched, less compact team, which left more space”analyzed Didier Deschamps, still satisfied with Olise’s performance for his first with the A team, after having played in the Olympic Games. “He did some good things with the ball, which coincided with the good first 20 minutes. He has very interesting potential that brings additional solutions.”he added.

Apart from Bradley Barcola, a ball magnet and scorer from the thirteenth second, which will not fail to revive the debates on his non-starters at the Euro, the other attackers however lacked efficiency. Of their 12 shots, only three were on target. Bradley Barcola gradually faded and, for his return to the Parc des Princes, Kylian Mbappé tried his luck without success. The name of Olivier Giroud was then chanted by the crowd, as a tribute to the newly retired international, unless it was to remind us that he could have been useful in the face of the offensive boredom of the second half.