This Tuesday at 4pm, France faces Denmark, where a draw is enough to ensure the first place in the group. Didier Deschamps has chose to rotate the players.
“Assure the first place and manage my group”: these are the objectives of Didier Deschamps, thisTuesday (4pm French Time) for the third World Cup match for France, against Denmark in Moscow, where he will rotate hhis players.
The French team are already qualified for the knockouts round and simply want to secure their first place in Pool C, to avoid, if possible, Croatia in the next round.
“Hairdressers”
To do this, Deschamps should call on those who are usually called “hairdressers”, replacements who usually play very little in a World Cup, but still have to support the team and keep the conquering state of mind. that claims a great competition.
At Stade Loujniki, the French coach could thus change half of its workforce, as it had done at the World Cup 2014 or Euro 2016 in a similar configuration.
Deschamps will take into account the “individual situations of some players, those who played less, those who played a lot more …” and “yellow cards too, because if I can preserve them, that’s it,” he said. he explained on the eve of the match.
Three players are concerned: midfielders Corentin Tolisso, Paul Pogba and Blaise Matuidi and should not be aligned at kickoff.
Raphaël Varane captain
Even the goalkeeper and captain Hugo Lloris should rest a little to the benefit of Marseille’s Steve Mandanda. Defender Raphael Varane has also hinted that he would wear the captain’s armband on Tuesday, a “great pride”.
The Madrilenian could be associated in a hinge to the young player from PSG Presnel Kimpembe, 22, to rest Samuel Umtiti, who is recovering from a crutch injury during the victory against Peru (1-0).
On the right hand side, it is the return of Djibril Sidibé who is expected. The Monegasque, who returns from glitches to the knee, ensures he is in top form, and even “1000%”, and will try to regain his place in the starting lineup for the 8th, while he was stolen by young Benjamin Pavard in the first two games.
Lemar
In attack, around the usual Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud, Ousmane Dembélé should evolve on the right wing, while a player is eagerly awaited on the left, Thomas Lemar.
Lemar showed some great things during the playoffs and friendlies, especially last August against the Netherlands (4-0), with his first goals in Blue, a doubling, including a superb volley of the left foot. His famous “beautiful left foot” which recently spoke Corentin Tolisso.
Indefatigable N’Golo Kanté
But the midfielder has not yet played a minute in the tournament and would like to turn the tide, although it may be difficult to change the hierarchy of Didier Deschamps, who appreciates the profile of the Monegasque, but also recalled its end of season less in view of the side of Monaco.
Finally, in the middle of the field, a very defensive pair is announced by the French press with Steven N’Zonzi and the indefatigable N’Golo Kanté, who passes for the new French lucky charm thanks to his slaughter on the ground, his eternal smile and modesty in life.
The coach of Denmark, Åge Hareide, was responsible for motivating the Blues at the end of May, by crawling in the newspaper Jyllands-Posten. To hear him, the team of France was “nothing special” and Paul Pogba would think only of his haircut. On Monday, the technician backpedaled in front of the press: “My comments were taken out of context. I made a comparison with the team of 98, the best team in France “in history.
“Salt and pepper “
But the damage is done and he added salt on this match which was missing a little. “Salt, pepper, vinegar,” Deschamps laughed. “It was not something nice. The players are more in reading and listening than me, they know very well what he said. But this is not what will overpower the players who will start tomorrow “(Tuesday).
In addition to the match of France, the most anticipated will be that of Argentina’s Lionel Messi, in full crisis and in great danger before playing against Nigeria (8pm French time). And video assistance to arbitration (VAR) will be scrutinized after interventions in shambles Monday night.
