Twelve days before entering the fray against Senegal, the Blues did not shine on Thursday against Ivory Coast. After an interesting first period, rewarded by a goal from Rayan Cherki just before the break, Didier Deschamps’ troops flouted their football in the second act, allowing the Ivorians to reverse the situation to offer themselves a historic victory (2-1).
“It’s a booster shot if we needed it. I’m not going to dramatize either, as I wouldn’t have gotten excited if we had won. It’s a step, it’s not necessarily positive because it’s a defeat,” confided Didier Deschamps after the meeting at the microphone of TF1.
This match against Ivory Coast was a particular reminder that the Blues do not offer all the guarantees in defense. This applies to the central hinge, where Ibrahima Konaté has confirmed his bad luck and should be content with a replacement role when William Saliba is restored, and even more so in the left lane where Lucas Digne and Théo Hernandez are competing for a starting place.
Lucas Hernandez’s luck?
Of the last ten matches played by the France team, each has played five and on Thursday, each was also able to play a half. But while Théo Hernandez is supposed to bring creativity and Lucas Digne security, both men have failed in their chosen area.
Although the former Milanese seemed physically fit, he appeared timid, without ideas, content to defend despite the little danger posed by his opposite number. Conversely, Lucas Digne failed defensively and was involved in the two Ivorian goals: by being slow to react on Guéla Doué on the first then by being out of time on the second. Obviously worrying for Didier Deschamps.
“We made mistakes too. We were behind on the second goal in particular,” did not fail to highlight the former midfielder afterwards. The situation is such that the French coach could ultimately be tempted to use… Lucas Hernandez, who is now mainly used in the center with the France team but has not done poorly this season with PSG in relay from Nuno Mendes.
