France has come down to earth against Hungary

This Saturday, June 19 in Budapest, at the time of the nap, the Blues have found the football of before, that of (almost) full stadiums and hostile atmospheres with whistles and sweet words in Magyar. Perched on a cloud of confidence since the preparation of this Euro 2021, reinforced by its convincing victory against Germany (1-0), the France team has found the floor of the cows by conceding the draw (1-1 ) against Hungary, Petit Poucet of group F more lively than expected.

With four points, France already has a foot in the round of 16, but the content was as heavy as the heat on the Puskas Arena. From the warm-up, the wrong tone is set. The Hungarians are overexcited when the French trot and send every other ball to the stand where their 5,700 supporters are.

Their start to the match was just as soft. Slow, borrowed, almost enslaved by the 34 degrees felt, the world champions pedal in the goulash. There is this attempt by Karim Benzema diverted by Peter Gulacsi on an Antoine Griezmann who strikes on the Hungarian goalkeeper. The attacker was signaled out of play, but this miss symbolizes the start of the match for his team. In the process, French football fails to attend an event, a goal from the head of Kylian Mbappé. But the resumption of the Parisian passes very little to side.

For the rest, Benjamin Pavard still seems stunned by his meeting with the knee of the German Robin Gosens, Paul Pogba left his superhero cape in Munich, Presnel Kimpembe multiplies the faults with the blessing of a very understanding referee. Benzema is not in a better light. All alone in the box on an offering from Mbappé, the Real Madrid striker strikes too fast and sideways. The goal of the reunion in selection is still waiting and the doubt may surface. Mbappé puts the Hungarian defense to death, but he is the only one.

The Blues are punished in stoppage time. Pavard and Raphaël Varane take a nap, Attila Fiola is well awake, him, and adjusts Hugo Lloris (45^e +2). The Puskas Arena melts and the mercury rises a little more. Didier Deschamps is good at reminding his players in the locker room that the status of favorite does not protect him from a bad surprise.

Fortunately Griezmann was passing by

On resumption, the locals keep the same flight plan. Solidarity in defense and explosiveness in cons. In the middle of nothingness, Ousmane Dembélé (just entered in place of a transparent Adrien Rabiot) sends a nice shot from the right on the post (57^e). Hungary believes in its achievement, a little too much. On a free kick, the Magyars increase in number. Lloris saw it and kicks a long ball. Mbappé is faster and smarter than Franco-Hungarian Loïc Nego. Luck then invites itself. Willi Orban releases too softly the center of the Parisian and Antoine Griezmann, who was passing by, delivers the Blues and erases, a little, his mediocre match (66^e).

We think the Blues are finally in orbit, but the rocket will never take off. There is this action of Mbappé, but the PSG striker rushes and especially warms the gloves of an imperial Gulacsi. Unlike the match against Germany, Deschamps empties his bench and sends Olivier Giroud to the front instead of a disappointing Benzema in the game and the finish. Without further results. Gulacsi is bombarded with water bottles sent by French supporters, at the same level as their players on the field.

The Hungarians, them, have the happy draw and long greet their audience. Their opponents have already gone to the locker room, as if to forget this meeting as quickly as possible and plan on the meeting in Portugal, on June 23, still in Budapest… but at the end of the afternoon (6 pm).