Antoine Griezmann (Atlético de Madrid), Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid) and Théo Hernandez (AC Milan) Zuma / Panoramic / Ruben Albarran / AI / Reuters / SUSANA VERA / AFP / MARCO BERTORELLO
DECRYPTION – Two months after the World Cup final lost against Argentina, the Blues are experiencing mixed fortunes, at the dawn of the knockout stages of the Champions League.
It is, for most of them, their first big meeting on the football pitch this week, two months after their trip to Qatar. Many players from the France team, beaten in the World Cup final by Argentina (3-3, 4-2 on penalties), are expected in the European Cups. The knockout stages of the Champions League begin this Tuesday, and the play-offs before the round of 16 in the Europa League and Europa League Conference follow this Thursday. Some Blues have digested the World Cup well. Others a little less. State of play.
They blaze
Except surprise, they will be three French to start with Bayern Munich against PSG, this Tuesday in the knockout stages of the Champions League (9 p.m.). Benjamin Pavardout of the eleven of the Blues during the World Cup, found a starting place. Dayot Upamecano is confirmed there at his side. In attack, Kingsley Coman (3 goals in the last 2 Bundesliga matches) rarely plays 90 minutes, but he responds.
A little further north, Randal Color, whose Eintracht Frankfurt will face Naples in C1 on February 21, walking on water (6 matches, 6 goals and 2 assists since the World Cup). In France, there is also a smile: Matteo Guendouzi et Jordan Veretout are precious in Marseille, and Axel Disasi et Youssouf Fofana are holders at AS Monaco, undefeated since the recovery in L1.
SEE ALSO – The draw between Bayern and Frankfurt with a nice goal from Kolo Muani on January 28 (1-1)
If we look abroad again, we note that Jules Kounde , often used on the right, no longer comes out of the standard team at FC Barcelona. Same for Adrien Rabiot at Juventus and Eduardo Camavinga who seduces Real Madrid as a left-back, a discovery of Deschamps in Qatar. Karim Benzema, who would have been officially world champion if the Blues had won the final, is more than ever the leader of Real. Finally, Antoine Griezmann remains an essential pawn of Atlético.
They hold on
Holder in 6 matches (6 wins) for West Ham in the Europa League Conference, Alphonse Areola waxes the bench in the Premier League. He must wait for the cups to play. Raphael Varaneneo-retired international, continues the matches at Manchester United, without the weight of the France team now. Aurelien Tchouameni missed 6 matches through injury at Real Madrid, but he has just won the Club World Cup as a starter.
In Germany, Marcus Thuram, silent in front of goal with Mönchengladbach for 4 matches, begins to doubt. This is less the case for Olivier Giroud (2 goals in the last 3 matches), but AC Milan, 5e of Serie A, throws his crisis. Another retiree from the Blues, Steve Mandanda is like Stade Rennais: inconstant. The Breton club has just conceded 6 goals in 2 matches and was ejected from the top 5 of L1.
They are struggling
He is also a goalkeeper, he also cut the Blues, but he is injured: Hugo Lloris, hit in the knee against Manchester City on February 5 (1-0), will be out for another one to two months. The most capped Frenchman in history (145 caps) has not been performing very well since his return from Qatar. No more than the defender William Salibayet radiant before the World Cup with Arsenal, still leader of the Premier League.
William Saliba suffered in his duels with Ivan Toney of Brentford on February 11. DAVID KLEIN / PANORAMIC
Saliba, at least, continues to play. Another Premier League tricolor defender, Ibrahima Konate, suffered a hamstring injury in late January. He could miss the 8e first leg of Liverpool in the Champions League, against Real Madrid on February 21. Ousmane Dembelehe is already forfeited for the round trip of Barça against Manchester United, in the Europa League play-off.
His attacking partner in Blues, Kylian Mbappe, also made a stint in the infirmary. He looks set to win his race against the clock to face Bayern. The PSG striker, with contrasting performances since his excellent World Cup, is in the squad for this Tuesday’s shock.
Finally, Theo Hernandez seems to be overheating at AC Milan. The left side has no lining in his position. He was at the forefront of Milan’s series of 5 games without a win in Serie A, punctuated by defeats in the Italian Cup and Italian Supercup. Théo has the merit of playing: his brother, Lucas Hernandezvictim of a cruciate ligament rupture at the start of the World Cup, should not play again this season at Bayern Munich.
SEE ALSO – World Cup: “I will never digest”, admits Kylian Mbappé
