For its first match of the year 2023, the France team faces the Netherlands on Friday, quarter-finalists of the last World Cup. Heavy entry for the Blues.
To discuss the ease of the new captain of the Blues, Kylian Mbappé, in a press conference, we would have almost forgotten the real purpose of our presence at the Stade de France, Thursday, March 23. In one sentence, Didier Deschamps reminded everyone: “We are starting on a qualifying phase which is never easy. ” Three months later, the Blues no longer have time to look back and rehash the memory of the World Cup final lost against Argentina (3-3, 2-4 tab).
The 23 players summoned by the coach for this first gathering are already turned towards the next objective of the France team: the qualifications for Euro 2024 in Germany, which start for the Blues at the Stade de France, Friday March 24 (8:45 p.m.), with a match against the Netherlands. A heavyweight and France’s main rival in Group B which also includes Ireland, Greece and Gibraltar.
A match and an opponent not to be taken lightly, even if the current circumstances seem favorable to the Blues. Louis van Gaal, who led the Netherlands to the quarter-finals of the World Cup – eliminated only on penalties by future world champions Argentina – has definitely retired. He was replaced by Ronald Koeman, already coach from 2018 to 2020, who is diving into the unknown of a new era.
The Dutch diminished by a virus
“Knowing how the Netherlands will play, with which players and in which position… If you have specific information, I am happy to take it“, launched Deschamps, aware that the Netherlands will have changed compared to the World Cup. The equation is all the more difficult to solve as the Orange will not be complete tonight. This team’s metronome, Frenkie de Jong, will be out due to injury. And this is very good news for the Blues.
Five other players withdrew on Thursday due to a viral infection, including World Cup revelation Cody Gakpo and Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt. Despite all these absences,We will have a very competitive team in front of us”, assured Deschamps. The Dutch have indeed resources and enough to annoy a French team also in full restructuring.
The advantage of playing the Netherlands, “the best opponent in the group on paper”, according to Deschamps, is that the recent choices of the coach will immediately pass a big test and prove to be profitable or not. With the international retirements of captain Hugo Lloris and vice-captain Raphaël Varane, and that of Steve Mandanda whose voice counted in the group, the whole chain of command of the Blues is to be reviewed.
By appointing Mbappé, 24, as new captain, Deschamps is banking on the emergence of certain executives to accompany the Bondynois in this role. Antoine Griezmann, the vice-captain, will be the first of them. The difficulties that the tricolors may encounter during the match against the Netherlands will allow this method to be tested. Among the other evening tests, we will be watching the hinge Ibrahima Konaté-Dayot Upamecano, now installed with the departure of Varane and the long-term injuries of Lucas Hernandez and Presnel Kimpembe.
“There is never a quiet return”
After Lloris’ international retirement, Mike Maignan has everyone’s trust – “he has everything to be at this level“, judge Deschamps -, but will have to meet expectations as the number 1 goalkeeper of the France team. Randal Kolo Muani, who should start the game as a striker at the expense of Olivier Giroud, can confirm Friday against to a great selection his nascent status as a player with great potential and a possible potential starter in this team.
“There is never a quiet return“Warned Deschamps on the eve of the match. Not worried, the coach, when approaching this new four-year mandate which should lead him to the 2026 World Cup. But wary as this match approaches against the Netherlands, which precedes another equally tricky one in Ireland on Monday.The latter played a friendly match on Wednesday and will have five days off before welcoming the Blues to Dublin (8:45 p.m.).
The players of the France team will only have three before moving on. “The context, with these three days, is difficult. It will require us to be efficient right away. There will be a lot of points to take later [pendant les qualifications]but these first two games are important“, recalled Deschamps. The message has passed, the France team is back in business.