It was a match to extend the momentum. That of the rise in the quarterfinals of the League of Nations against Croatia in March. That of the victory of Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last Saturday. But like the football lesson collected by Inter last Saturday in Munich, the French team, in turn, on its scale, underwent a small storm against Spain (4-5), in Stuttgart this time.
Without being dominated as the Inter facing PSG, the Blues accused the blow in the defensive sector, where the quartet composed in the absence of certain executives (Kalulu-Konaté-Lenglet-T.hernandez) took the water from the first period. First by not preventing Mikel Oyarzabal from shifting Nico Williams in the surface (0-1, 22nd); Then being naively trapped by this one-two where Oyarzabal sent Mikel Merino to the goal (0-2, 25th).
It's a shame because Didier Deschamps' men had had some opportunities, including a strike from Theo Hernandez on the bar (11th). But the opportunities for the end of the first period, for Désiré Doué (31st), Kylian Mbappé (32nd) and Ousmane Dembélé (37th, 45th) were not sufficient to worry Unai Simon.
Dembélé overshadowed by Lamine Yamal, the spectacular entrance to Cherki
Concerning Dembélé, his rival Lamine Yamal had declared that this semi-final of the League of Nations would be decisive for the allocation of the Ballon d'Or. The prodigy of FC Barcelona also spoke on the ground, by scoring a penalty that he himself had obtained on an awkward tackle of Adrien Rabiot (0-3, 54th), before offering a double by playing from Clément Lenglet and Mike Maignan (1-5, 67th). Lethal.
Meanwhile, Pedri had aggravated the brand after a good one-two with Nico Williams (0-4, 55th), and Kylian Mbappé had treated his statistics by also marking a penalty he had caused (1-4, 59th).
The end of the meeting offered a small ray of sunshine called Rayan Cherki. For its very first selection from the Blues, the genius of Lyon marked a superb sequence (2-5, 79th) before being behind the CSC of Vivian on a center of Malo Gusto (3-5, 84th). There will even be a new goal signed Randal Kolo Muani (4-5, 90th+4), entered in place of a touched Dembélé (and sunk into the Golden Ball race?). The decisive passer? Cherki.
So this is the summary of this match, where the Blues did not lack talent ahead, but suffered the martyr behind. We will have to show something else on Sunday against Germany, in the match for 3rd place. For its part, Spain will play Portugal for the title. And Lamine Yamal will play another trophy, we understood.
