Without always being brilliant, the Blues ended the first part of their year 2023 on Monday with a perfect record: four wins in as many games and no goals conceded.
“Even if everything was not perfect, we did what was necessary”. Didier Deschamps showed his satisfaction after the victory of the French team against Greece (1-0), Monday June 19, at the Stade de France. Despite the skimpy score of this last outing before the holidays, the last score was good. His team found the resources to unlock a meeting padlocked by a compact and curled up Greek team, without ever being worried.
“We did the job quietly”, dared Randal Kolo Muani at the microphone of TF1. Despite the accumulation of unfavorable refereeing decisions, he and his teammates never drowned in frustration. “The only regret I have is that we didn’t take cover (…) It’s just the chance/goal ratio that should have been better”, acknowledged Deschamps at a press conference, without really making any concessions. Obviously, in the way, his team could have done better, but the objectives are achieved.
The new cycle is on
The low adversity offered by Gibraltar and even Greece on Monday prevented in any way to draw great lessons from this last gathering, whether positive or negative. All the more so in this end-of-season atmosphere and this obvious relaxation among some players who have played up to 61 games, like Antoine Griezmann. A year after having completely missed out on their month of June (0 successes in four games), the French team completed the first half of their qualifying phase for Euro 2024 with 100% victories (4/4 ). Barring a disaster, Didier Deschamps will take his players to Germany next June.
Above all, the group showed that it had quickly digested the tearing of Doha and this World Cup final lost on penalties against Argentina in December. Since then, the doors have been closed: the Blues have not conceded a single goal since Lionel Messi’s in extra time. Very good news for a team which lost its defending captain, Raphaël Varane, and its historic goalkeeper, Hugo Lloris, both now retired, and who had no longer chained four “clean sheets” for two years.
The new cycle has started and seems to be on the right track. “The group is younger, there is less experience, but they know what they want”, rejoiced Deschamps whose last choices seem to be on track to bear fruit for Euro 2024. The Upamecano-Konaté hinge is now well established. Mike Maignan is undoubtedly the goalkeeper of tomorrow. Kylian Mbappé’s captaincy is destined to last. It remains to be seen whether players who have scored points in recent months, such as Randal Kolo Muani or Eduardo Camavinga, will be able to continue their momentum.