It was the start of preparation for the 2026 World Cup for Didier Deschamps’ French team. This Thursday, in Nantes, the Blues hosted Ivory Coast for the first preparation match. Unsurprisingly, Didier Deschamps announced that this meeting would be a first test for his team and above all a way to gradually gain strength before the first shock against Senegal. In this type of match, victory is important for confidence, but above all it is necessary to avoid injuries a few days before the start of the competition. For the kick-off of this match, the France team presented itself in 4-2-3-1 with Maignan in goal, KoundĂ©, Upamecano, KonatĂ© and Hernandez in defense and a double-pivot composed of TchouamĂ©ni and Rabiot. In front, all eyes were fixed on the quartet MbappĂ©, Cherki, Olise and Thuram.
Facing a team from CĂ´te d’Ivoire with a reputation for play and which included Yan DiomandĂ©, the Leipzig sensation tracked by PSG, we expected a fairly open match. Very quickly, Kylian MbappĂ© got the first opportunity of the game with a dry strike that Y. Fofana repelled (6th). The Blues outrageously dominated the match but did not particularly manage to make any big differences. CĂ´te d’Ivoire took the opportunity to attack on the counter with the speed of DiomandĂ© which put KonatĂ© in a bit of difficulty. But it was the French who created the biggest chances, like Michael Olise who took advantage of a high recovery to present himself in front of Fofana. But he lacked the lucidity to conclude the action (21st). Cherki, for his part, who scored a lot and released some good balls, got confused when finishing the first time into the empty goal (31st).
A French team with two faces
The Manchester City striker was, however, rewarded a few minutes later with a goal of which he has the secret. After eliminating the Ivorian defender in front of the area with a rake, he crossed his shot and left Fofana no chance (45th). Just before that, CĂ´te d’Ivoire was close to the perfect shot but Adingra saw his shot pushed back at the last minute by Maignan. No matter, the hardest part was done at the break with a slight lead. Upon returning from the locker room, as he had announced, Didier Deschamps made a big turnover with the exit of Kylian MbappĂ©, Michael Olise, AurĂ©lien TchouamĂ©ni, Dayot Upamecano and ThĂ©o Hernandez. Changes which obviously changed things in the face displayed by the France team. More wait-and-see, less technically precise, the France team was punished by the Ivory Coast as soon as they returned from the locker room. On a good serve from Nicolas PĂ©pĂ©, Guela DouĂ© went to deceive Maignan to put the two teams back on an equal footing. Disappointing in the process, France seemed uninspired and the new changes from DD with the entries of Gusto, Lucas Hernandez and Manu KonĂ© changed nothing. Offensively, the newcomers Mateta and Akliouche failed to shine.
And Ivory Coast, as the minutes passed, grew in power, gained in confidence. Emerse FaĂ©’s team, also with a fairly impressive squad, even managed to turn the match around at the end of the match. In an excellent collective movement, Guela DouĂ© (definitely motivated by the idea of ​​playing against his brother DĂ©sirĂ© who remained on the bench), perfectly served Amad Diallo who got ahead of the defender and deflected with his right foot (2-1, 84th). A goal which sanctioned the face displayed by the Blues upon returning from the locker room and which rewarded the seriousness of the Ivorian team. The score will no longer move. For the first time in the Didier Deschamps era, France lost in a preparation match before a World Cup. France, which remained in 9 matches without defeat, relapsed and will have to analyze this poor performance before flying to the United States.
