The France Espoirs team, deprived of many elements, is getting “in the hard way” with two tough opponents, England on Saturday (6:00 p.m.) then Spain on Tuesday.
«It’s really nice to have this kind of ‘big names’ that galvanize you a little more“, saliva Pierre Kalulu, pillar of Blueberries (15 selections). “These kinds of matches are the most complicated, the toughest, it will allow us to gauge ourselves“. Les Bleuets sometimes fly over the debates in attack / defense games where they are little worried, but this should not be the case in Leicester and Vannes. “It’s going to be a bit more ‘real football’. Even for viewers, it will be more pleasant to see us a little more in the hard“said Kalulu, defender of AC Milan.
The team led by Sylvain Ripoll, quarter-finalist in 2021, has voluntarily raised the level of opposition to prepare for the Under-21 Euro in Romania and Georgia (June 21-July 8). “These are opponents that we wanted, chosen, surely contenders for the title; in any case, two nations that represent the best in Europe in the U23 category», Says the Breton technician, in charge since 2017.
A reduced workforce
Ripoll attacks the home stretch with two handicaps. Its workforce is both weakened by half a dozen packages and by the promotion of young shoots at the Blues of Didier Deschamps. The defense in particular has lead in the wing since the Montpellier Joris Chotard, the Niçois Melvin Bard and the Rennais Adrien Truffert all had to give up due to injury. The Lyon midfielder Maxence Caqueret, diminished, was added to the list.
The tricolor team nevertheless looks great around goalkeeper Illan Meslier, holder in Leeds in the Premier League, defenders Kalulu and Mohamed Simakan, midfielder Enzo Le Fée and attackers Rayan Cherki, Amine Gouiri or Arnaud Kalimuendo.
Depending on the needs of the France A team
Les Bleuets will also be able to count on Benoît Badiashile, who returned to the Espoirs after having tasted the big Blues in September 2022, with two tenures on the clock. Conversely, Didier Deschamps retains midfielder Eduardo Camavinga (20 years old) in March, to make him a lining for Theo Hernandez on the left side, and steals Khéphren Thuram (21 years old) to strengthen his midfield, still orphaned by N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba.
«Each year, the France A team has needs. If Didier thinks that some people have to go up, they go up, there is no tension because I integrated this principle from the start“says Ripoll. The Espoirs coach must let his executives slip to the top floor, even as a major competition approaches. He can also sometimes recover some of them if they can’t stay there. Camavinga, for example, made the round trip before establishing itself among the vice-world champions.
In March, several novices point the tip of their noses, in particular the Lyonnais Johann Lepenant and Bradley Barcola. The attacker has a card to play, according to Ripoll, seduced by a “profile“which is missing in the Espoirs. “He is a player of verticality, able to make differences in taking up space because he is fast“, enthuses the Breton.
