Disappointing at Euro 2024 in Germany (both with extenuating circumstances), captain Kylian Mbappé and vice-captain Antoine Griezmann will not start the French team’s match against Belgium, this Monday evening at the Parc OL, as part of the second day of the Nations League. Les Bleus will try to get back on track following their defeat at the Parc des Princes against Italy (1-3), last Friday, despite the
turnover What will Didier Deschamps achieve?
To see France without “Grizi” or “Kyks” at kick-off, we have to go back to the third match of the French selection at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, for a 1-0 defeat against Tunisia. After victories against Australia (4-1) and Denmark (2-1) to start the Qatari World Cup, “La Dèche” thought about rotating a little, working a 4-3-3 with Youssouf Fofana and Mattéo Guendouzi in midfield and Kingsley Coman and Marcus Thuram with Mbappé up front (in place of Ousmane Dembélé and Olivier Giroud).
Mbappé was due to start France-Tunisia
After scoring three goals in two matches in Qatar, Mbappé suffered a slight ankle injury and Deschamps finally spared him for the third and final match of the group stage. With Marcus Thuram ill, Randal Kolo Muani took his place at the forefront of the attack against the Carthage Eagles. As a result, to replace Mbappé on the left wing, it was Guendouzi who was chosen by the coach! Jordan Veretout also had the chance to start a World Cup match.
With this surprising and tactically shaky formation (it logically leaned to the right with Coman), the French team put in a horrible performance. The midfielders (including Guendouzi left winger and Eduardo Camavinga left back) all fell through. Wahbi Khazri deceived Steve Mandanda on the hour mark (58th) and the entries of Mbappé, Griezmann and Dembélé did not change much, even if France equalized thanks to “Grizi” in the 98th minute. The referee of the match then disallowed the tricolor goal for offside when he no longer had the right to do so, having restarted the match with a kick-off…
