Nations League: France loses pitifully in Denmark (2-0) but remains in League A

One last quack for the Blues before Qatar. Jostled by an exciting Danish formation, the France team concludes its campaign in the League of Nations with a defeat that looks like a warning two months from the Qatari world (2-0). In an overheated Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, the Blues first responded to the intensity put on by the locals, before bending the knee on two achievements signed Kasper Dolberg (34th) and Andreas Skov Olsen (39th). A slight revival of form in the second half will not have changed anything. Thanks to the victory of the Croats in Austria (1-3), the Habs are maintained in League A. A lesser evil in view of the shortcomings displayed this Sunday, and while the defense of the world title promises to be more complex.

A worrying collective shipwreck

Stumbling on the last step before flying to Qatar in less than two months, we have known better preparation before a planetary deadline. Author of a promising start around an ambitious and authoritarian Tchouaméni-Camavinga duo in the midfield, France delivered the first twenty minutes of good quality. In the middle of this highlight, Antoine Griezmann offered himself the clearest blue opportunity (15th). Electric with each of his ball shots, Kylian Mbappé struggled to find his friends in attack, like an underserved Olivier Giroud.

Never dropped but not yet dangerous, Denmark raised their slider a notch around the half-hour mark. The first alert from Andreas Skov Olsen (20th) set the tone for a meaningful end to the first act. unique. In the wake of a beaming Christian Eriksen, the Danes scored two goals in five minutes, drowning the Blues in the red and white tide. Kasper Dolberg opened the scoring with his toes after a pinpoint serve from Mikkel Damsgaard (34′), before Andreas Skov Olsen took care of sending a dry half-volley into Alphonse’s side netting Areola, helpless (39th).

For his fifth selection, the West Ham replacement goalkeeper did not deserve, author of some important stops (37th, 38th, 58th, 85th). It was necessary that to cover the errors of an inexperienced tricolor defense in full shipwreck. Off-topic in the commitment, the France team has long seemed resigned. A feeling of helplessness that has contaminated all the tricolor lines.

Mbappé, an evening to forget

Amid this hustle and bustle, a few offensive snippets helped dispel the immense fog of pessimism encompassing the French performance. After a promising start, Kylian Mbappé missed almost everything he tried, even bordering on overbidding in the solo register. It was once the Bondynois seemed to find his marks that Kasper Schmeichel took it upon himself to destroy the hopes of a return of the Blues. Three times (67th, 68th, 70th), the doorman of the Gym disgusted the number 10 tricolor, like an evening to forget for the latter.

This defeat does not have serious consequences in terms of accounts, since the victory of Croatia in Austria (1-3) ensures the Blues to keep a folding seat in League A. But, as the World Cup looms and a new confrontation against the Vikings (November 26, in Doha), Didier Deschamps’ machine seizes up a little more each day. Beyond the individual performances and the large number of injuries before kick-off, the body language does not encourage optimism. Opposite, the Danes played with the knife between their teeth for 90 minutes. So, more than the system or the players, it is the intensity produced that will set the ambitions of the Blues in the defense of their crown.