Apathetic and manhandled by a good German team, Saturday in a friendly match at Groupama Stadium (0-2), the Blues disappointed and even worried a few months before the Euro.
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For its last big test before the start of the Euro, the France team missed its subject, Saturday March 23 in Lyon against Germany. Logically dominated (0-2), the Blues showed nothing against a German team which is regaining confidence before hosting the continental competition in mid-June.
Central hinge in difficulty, midfield almost non-existent… Didier Deschamps has several projects to work on. A collective rebound will be expected on Tuesday evening (9 p.m.) at the Vélodrome against Chile.
Brice Samba: 5.5/10
He consolidated his place as number two in the hierarchy of goalkeepers for the Blues. Taking advantage of Mike Maignan’s minor injury this week to celebrate his third selection, it didn’t take more than seven seconds for him to already get the ball in his net on Florian Wirtz’s beautiful strike. The Lens goalkeeper was beaten again at the start of the second half by Kai Havertz, being eliminated too easily by Jamal Musiala in the action (49th). He still avoided a much heavier addition at the end of the match by intervening on a vicious strike from Maximilian Mittelstädt (79th), then making two new superb saves against Thomas Müller and Deniz Undav a few seconds later.
Jules Koundé: 4/10
Very discreet, especially offensively, the Barça player did not really score any points this Saturday. Not really in danger on the defensive level until then, it is still from his side that the first German situation comes in the second period, through Kai Havertz (46th). He does not squeeze Florian Wirtz on his deep pass for Jamal Musiala who brings the second German goal (49th). Replaced by Jonathan Clauss in the 60th minute.
Benjamin Pavard: 4/10
Put in difficulty from the first seconds with this early goal from Florian Wirtz, Benjamin Pavard did not reassure in the axis of the French defense. If he regained confidence from the half-hour mark, after the big German highlight, by taking charge of the first restart, he can be singled out for the second goal. It is he who is taken behind his back by Jamal Musiala on the situation which leads to the second goal. He also encountered a lot of difficulty in anticipating the play between the lines of Kai Havertz, not to mention almost non-existent communication with his partner in the hinge.
Dayot Upamecano: 4.5/10
He was slow to come out on Florian Wirtz when the score opened in the 7th second, immediately sanctioning his lack of impact. He made a good return on Jamal Musiala at the half-hour mark to prevent the German’s shot. But it was above all his lack of communication with Benjamin Pavard that failed him. Not always seeming to be on the same wavelength as to who should take charge of Kai Havertz, the two men certainly evolved alongside each other, but certainly not together.
Lucas Hernandez: 5.5/10
A little more leggy in the first act than his defense teammates, he tried to double up a few times in his left lane to provide support to Kylian Mbappé. He is at the origin of a beautiful movement in the 24th minute which leads to a small lob from his captain well stopped by ter Stegen. He also signs a very good defensive return on Havertz in the 36th. On the verge of fouling Jamal Musiala in his area on a deep ball (58th). Replaced by Theo Hernandez in the 60th minute.
Adrien Rabiot: 5.5/10
Very discreet and hardly found during the first 20 minutes, he then worked in the shadows throughout the rest of the game. His few recoveries were good, especially given the difficulties encountered in the midfield with the very complicated matches of Zaire-Emery and Tchouaméni in this 4-3-3.
Aurélien Tchouaméni: 4/10
He was to be the hub of the Blues midfield. But like his partners, Aurélien Tchouaméni has long seemed inside. A few recoveries, a few attempts to direct the game forward, but it remains insufficient. His off-target shot at the entrance to the German area (58th) will be his only offensive flash. Eliminated too easily, often, by the arrows Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala. Replaced by Youssouf Fofana in the 73rd minute.
Warren Zaire-Emery: 4/10
For his second cape in Blue, the young PSG midfielder did not really take advantage of the absence of Antoine Griezmann to make an impression. During the first minutes of the game, he took the full brunt of the heavy pressure from veteran Toni Kroos and the entire German midfield. Difficult to gain confidence in these conditions… His lack of taking risks in his transmissions – often lateral or backwards – is probably the consequence. Replaced by Eduardo Camavinga in the 60th minute.
Ousmane Dembélé: 5.5/10
He was the only detonator for the Blues this Saturday. And it, unfortunately, only lasted an hour at most. The Parisian winger was the first, with Kylian Mbappé, to attempt acceleration. With his interesting hooks, it is he who brings Mbappé’s strike in the 21st. He then tormented Mittelstädt until the break, and forced Marc-André Ter Stegen to intervene in the 35th minute. His curling shot from the left in the 55th will be his last feat of arms before disappearing. Replaced by Randal Kolo Muani in the 83rd minute.
Marcus Thuram: 3/10
Preferred over Randal Kolo Muani and Olivier Giroud at the forefront of the attack, the Inter Milan scorer did not have the opportunity to show much of his qualities at Groupama Stadium. If he was the first French player to strike on goal in the 19th minute – a shot from the left well above – he was then found very little by his partners, being satisfied with only crumbs on a few balls that were difficult to negotiate in the opposing area. Replaced by Olivier Giroud in the 60th minuteauthor of a beautiful volley on a service from Mbappé which could have hit the mark in added time (90th + 1).
Kylian Mbappé: 4.5/10
No, Kylian Mbappé has still not scored against Germany, who remains the opponent he has faced the most without ever managing to find the net (five confrontations). Like Ousmane Dembélé, he tried to take the spaces on his left lane in the first period. His dribbling worked, sometimes, but his passes and crosses were too imprecise to really endanger the German defense. He also attempted impossible slaloms in the middle of three players, further proof of the Blues’ difficulties this Saturday. His end of the match alternated between the good – his cross for Giroud in added time – and the less good – lost balls on somewhat desperate solo numbers. Not really up to par, like all of his teammates.