Since the start of the competition, nothing has been simple for the French team. From the legislative elections under Mbappé’s nose to the countless debates on the quality of play offered, life is not a long, quiet river. Even if the players take turns at press conferences to praise the good atmosphere and cohesion around the coach, the result on the pitch does not always prove him right. Against Belgium this Monday, Deschamps had decided to maintain his 4-3-3, but with a new evolution, the positioning of Griezmann on the right side. While Mbappé found his left side, with Marcus Thuram up front. “Maybe it was to mislead you, I don’t know. We talked about the diamond, we worked on it a little the day before. The coach wanted to do it differently, we apply the instructions on the field.”judged Adrien Rabiot, in the mixed zone.
A new tactical choice, after the unsuccessful attempts during the group stage. 4-4-2 hybrid, Mbappé at the forefront in a 4-3-3, and now Griezmann on the right. A new find that did not bear fruit since the Blues clearly purred in the first half, struggling to find depth, and especially speed in their game. Too many touches of the ball, too many players who stepped on each other’s toes as soon as Griezmann realigned, and finally too little creativity. “The coach came to my room and told me that. I told him, ‘Let’s go.’ I’m here for the team. The last time I played in this position was at Real Sociedad, but on the left side. I have to adapt.”said the number 7 of the Blues about his position, in the mixed zone.
Only one change, but decisive
It was a little better in the second half, with players determined to play faster, to speed up the transmissions, to eliminate unnecessary touches of the ball. But it did not suddenly become flamboyant. Many expected the entry into play of destabilizing elements like Dembélé or Barcola. But Deschamps decided not to change anything, before replacing Thuram with Randal Kolo Muani. A change that proved him right since it was on an action of the PSG player that the score finally changed. But he did not touch the rest, whether it was Rabiot, Griezmann or Tchouaméni, 3 players cautioned during the match.
The fate of the match has once again proven Didier Deschamps right, but he will have to change his starting eleven again for the quarter-final. Rabiot will be suspended for the next match. Eduardo Camavinga seems the obvious solution to take over, unless he brings Griezmann back into this hybrid role. It remains to be seen whether he will change his attacking style, which once again failed against Belgium. Otherwise, he will not experience, once again, the most exciting 90 minutes of the tournament…
