The world champions logically lost to Denmark (2-0) on Sunday in Copenhagen for the last day of the League of Nations.
Special Envoy to Copenhagen
A false note before the World Cup. In large widths. We may call ourselves the France team and puff out our chests with two stars on our jerseys, but that’s not enough to win matches. Far too diminished by an incredible cascade of injuries (Lloris, Pogba, Benzema…), far too feverish with a collective that took on water from all sides and far too tender in view of certain performances unworthy of the high international level, the Blues logically lost Sunday evening against Denmark (2-0), in Copenhagen, at the end of the League of Nations.
If we are sure not to see the same team again on November 22 in Doha to start the World Cup ahead of Australia, which is reassuring, we will still have to remember this evening when flying to Qatar, where the Blues will not be able to say that they have not been warned in the event of a relapse.
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With such an experimental defense (13 selections for the Saliba-Upamecano-Badiashile trio at kick-off) lined up from the start, Didier Deschamps took a bet… which he lost. In the absence of Raphaël Varane (29 years old, 87 sel.), spared, the French camp clearly lacked a boss to replace, direct and show authority when the boat began to pitch in the middle of the First period. Especially on corners, with an almost systematic Danish danger. However, just before the two goals of the last semi-finalists of the Euro, the Blues had revealed a desire to play, to carry the danger in front of the goal of Schmeichel (8th, 15th, 18th, 19th) and could have opened the scoring .
However, the Blues had started well …
But the scenario seen hundreds of times where the dominated team surprises its opponent once again took place in the furnace of Parken Stadium with the goal of Dolberg (1-0, 34th), loaned to Seville by Nice, then in the stride the logical punishment on a corner with Skov Olsen (2-0, 39th) who took advantage of the defensive wreckage of the world champions. Unforgivable at this level. And significant of the difficulties of the French collective in distress with many elements in great suffering (Pavard, Saliba, Upamecano, Camavinga…) some of whom may have lost their place for the World Cup (November 20-December 18) Sunday evening . Proof, if needed, that the very high level does not forgive the approximation.
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In the Danish fury with an atmosphere of great evenings despite the cold of the North, the changes of Didier Deschamps (Clauss and Fofana from the break in place of Saliba and Camavinga, then Nkunku-Truffert for Giroud-Mendy) will not have done anything evolve. For in the end, a real one-way evening like the three consecutive occasions of Kylian Mbappé (66th, 68th, 70th) stopped by Kasper Schmeichel, much more in legs in the country with the support of 37,000 spectators in heat than in Nice. The Blues will even finish the meeting with the Parisian striker captain after the exit of Griezmann (81st, replaced by Kolo Muani), who wore the armband for the first time, and a team far too inexperienced to hope to reverse the trend.
In this final nightmarish meeting before the World Cup in Qatar, a single satisfaction will relieve “DD” and his troops. The victory of Croatia in Austria (1-3), which avoids the holders of the French title a relegation to League B. Small consolation. And a real false note 55 days before the start of the World Cup.
