It’s official, France will be part of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The Blues validated their qualification, Saturday, November 13, by crushing Kazakhstan at the Parc des Princes (8-0). But the lessons for the future of this ambitious team lie behind the orgy of goals. His modest adversity was already overcome, guaranteed to be eliminated, and his qualification was expected. The main lesson lies in the progress of Didier Deschamps’ new tactical organization, with three central defenders and two pistons.
Against Kazakhstan, half of the goals scored by the Blues were given by one of the two lane players (4/8). With two new assists, Theo Hernandez consolidated his place on the left, where he had made only four selections to make his hole. It was on the right that the questions remained, like the only dark point of a clear road map. The beginnings of Benjamin Pavard pushed Deschamps to make a strong decision, Saturday night, by establishing Kingsley Coman in his place, him the very offensive winger. A choice that has paid off.
For an evening, the right lane of the France team has recovered. Less than ten minutes recalled the extent of the Bayern Munich player’s offensive palette. His ability to win one-on-one by dribbling and picking up speed against opposing defenders hit the mark with extreme precision in the last move. It was he who offered Kylian Mbappé the goals of 2-0 (12th) and 3-0 (32nd), each time after being found in depth, by a back pass first and then on a center perfect.
Kingsley Coman’s first half by numbers vs. Kazakhstan:
94% pass accuracy
54 keys
8 sticks
4 won duels
3 successful take-ons
3 chances created
2 big chances created
2 assistsSuperb. pic.twitter.com/iI6ZfGqQIS
– Squawka Football (@Squawka) November 13, 2021
Kingsley Coman brought real torture to the Kazakh rearguard, in particular to poor No.6 Maksat Taykenov. By completing six dribbles, he established his 2nd highest total with the Blues, after his 7 against Moldova two years earlier. A performance in line with his last club outings, brilliant since his heart surgery in September to treat an arrhythmia that was short of breath. “I felt great with Kingsley. He’s a player who knows how to make the difference and he was very fair tonight.”, rejoiced Jules Koundé after the meeting, he who gave the ball to Coman on his two assists.
If he did not fully discover this piston position, since he held it a week earlier with Munich against Freiburg (2-1 victory), Kingsley Coman scored points while bringing credit to the new tactical organization adopted by his coach. “I never do a ‘one shot’. Obviously he is an option. It was not risky at all today, because I imagined we would have more the ball and Kingsley was going to end up in a position. which suits him well. Today, he had good feelings “, noted Didier Deschamps at a post-match press conference.
One year from the start of the 2022 World Cup, the time is still long, but the gatherings will not be numerous. After the trip to Finland on Tuesday, we will have to wait until March for the next meeting in Clairefontaine. If he is spared from injuries, the one who has missed more games than he played in the selection since his debut in 2015, has become a credible option for the future of the Blues. But all the questions have not been erased with a wave of the hand.
>> Read also: France-Kazakhstan: Merciless Mbappé, Coman’s promises … Les notes des Bleus
Faced with opponents who had nothing more to play and far below the level of the Blues, the context was ideal to shine. Doubts about the Bayern winger’s defensive capabilities will continue until he grapples with more fierce adversity. “Is it possible to repeat it? Yes, but against other opponents, it requires adjustments, even if he made defensive efforts today”, To temperate Deschamps. The person concerned will be able to answer him that so far the France team has never bowed when he was the holder (16 games: 12 wins, 4 draws).