Chile’s reception in a friendly match took on more importance than expected after the lesson learned against Germany (2-0). Even though it has been largely reworked, the French team must win on Tuesday in Marseille to avoid letting doubt intrude. A meeting which will allow the Marseille public to meet the Chileans Alexis Sanchez and Mauricio Isla, who wore the Olympique de Marseille jersey.
Published on: 03/26/2024 – 10:07 Modified on: 03/26/2024 – 16:30
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The Blues favor the accident theory. The meeting described as “a non-match from the first to the last second” by Benjamin Pavard, Saturday against Germany, was “a day without” for Brice Samba, who should return the goals to Mike Maignan against the South Americans. And the Blues hope to do better on Tuesday June 26 in Marseille against Chile.
It must be said that the defeat at the Groupama stadium in Lyon was a task. The French, who are one of the big favorites for Euro-2024, performed poorly, with their total lack of pressing, especially against an opponent of this level.
“It’s better to take it now,” assures captain Kylian Mbappé, who came for the second time in a row at a pre-match press conference. “Before the Euro, in 2021, we didn’t take a beating, we beat everyone in the friendly matches and we took a beating in the round of 16 [élimination contre la Suisse] and we went home. If this match can be of use to us…”
All the same. The Blues are now obliged to dispel the ambient skepticism during this last match before the list for the Euro. A second setback in a row, which would be a first since 2015, would be extremely unfortunate as the final phase is fast approaching (June 14-July 14).
Read alsoEuro 2024 football: the complete calendar and all the results of the competition
Then, there will be two preparation matches remaining, June 5 in Metz and June 9 in Bordeaux, against opponents to be determined, before entering the competition on June 17 against Austria.
The coach wants to see “as many players as possible”
Aurélien Tchouameni, one of the new leaders who also missed his match against Germany, is certainly “not worried”, but he recalls that “there will be big teams at the Euro” and rightly warns : “It’s certain that if we repeat this type of match, it won’t happen.”
“It was not a good French team, admitted Benjamin Pavard. It’s a good reminder for the future, fortunately it was only a friendly match, fortunately we have a match which will come quickly against Chile, we will do everything to win.”
To complete the promised squad review, Didier Deschamps will give playing time to players who have had little or no time in Lyon, from Marseillais Jonathan Clauss to Monegasque Youssouf Fofana.
It will also be necessary to monitor the center forward position, particularly scrutinized after Marcus Thuram’s missed match.
“One of my objectives is to see as many players as possible,” recalls Deschamps, even if this “leads to a slightly more random collective expression, but it was the time to do it”.
The coach of the France team Didier Deschamps in Marseille, March 25, 2024, the day before the friendly match against Chile © FRANCK FIFE / AFP
“We are upset, but we will have to get back up. We hope that we can make the French public happier,” Tchouameni continues.
Chile’s bad luck
Fortunately for France, Chile is not an opponent of the caliber of Germany, host country of the next Euro.
The South American “Roja” lost its splendor, falling from 5th place in the Fifa world rankings in 2015 – at the time when it managed to win its first two Copas America (2015 and 2016) – to the 42nd place.
She is only 8th in the Conmebol group qualifying for the World Cup, but she won her first match against Albania (3-0) on Friday with her new coach, the Argentinian Ricardo Gareca, who has already crossed paths with Didier Deschamps with Peru at the 2018 World Cup, for a 1-0 victory for the Blues.
Of the Chileans in Ligue 1, only Toulouse’s Gabriel Suazo is operational, with Monegasque Guillermo Maripan injured.
La “Roja” also fields two former Marseillais, Mauricio Isla (2015-2016) and especially Alexis Sanchez, whom the Vélodrome adored last season.
The record is balanced against Chile, with two victories, two defeats and a draw, during their last meeting in 2011 (1-1). But in the event of another misstep by the Blues, a state of emergency would be declared at the worst possible moment.
