Jean-Baptiste Sarrazin
modified to
10:50 p.m., November 17, 2022
Nkunku: the straw that can break the camel’s back? The Blues faced a series of injuries on the eve of the World Cup. And among them Christopher Nkunku who had to give up the World Cup just before flying to Qatar last Monday.
“We are facing an unprecedented carnage,” said Patrick Julliard on the show Europe 1 Sportsbefore continuing: “Among the favourites, France is the most diminished team on the board.”
Hecatomb
Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kanté long absent, Presnel Kimpembe last minute package: in recent weeks, the curse of injuries has fallen on the Blues, who played their first training session in Doha on Thursday.
Contrary to the initial expectations of coach Didier Deschamps, Raphaël Varane and Karim Benzema, both affected in the thigh, remained on the sidelines of the group to continue their rehabilitation.
This slaughter and these uncertainties completely reshape the workforce, made up of only ten reigning world champions. None in midfield. And the final list features a rejuvenated and partly inexperienced squad at international level, with 12 players each having less than ten caps.
Adapt quickly
The lack of preparation ahead of the tournament does not help the business of young shoots, forced to adapt quickly. “If they are there it is because they deserve it. There is no doubt that they will be ready to meet the requirements”, assures captain Hugo Lloris in an interview with AFP. “They all know each other very well.”
The Blues will thus rely heavily in Qatar on Aurélien Tchouaméni (22) in midfield, while Dayot Upamecano (24) and Ibrahima Konaté (23) have been named as potential holders in defense.
The tactical wanderings
The infirmary is not the only reason for concern for the world champions. Since the Euro in the summer of 2021, with elimination from the round of 16, they have not found the right formula.
Coach Didier Deschamps tried, until September, to set up a five-man defense with very attacking laterals, supposed to give his attacking trio (Griezmann, Benzema, Mbappé) better proximity. But despite a convincing victory in the League of Nations in October 2021, the Blues were rarely reassuring.