Completely dominated, the French were logically inclined to the Netherlands (2-0) Friday and have dangerously weakened their chances of qualification.
The world champions are falling from their pedestals: completely dominated, the French were logically inclined to the Netherlands (2-0) Friday and have dangerously weakened their chances of qualifying for the final phase of the UEFA Nations League.
“Our deficiencies have been glaring,” said coach Didier Deschamps . “It hurts, we had used for a good time to have good results.”
Les Bleus have more destiny in hand and now await the Dutch move to Germany on Monday. If the Oranje win or tie against the Mannschaft, they will steal the precious sesame for the semifinals of June.
Germany is already relegated to the second division (League B) and will have much to do against a Dutch team full of talent and vivacity and who had outperformed 3-0 mid-October.
This first defeat since March, after a series of unbeaten 15 matches, comes at the worst time for the team of France, but it is logical that the Bleus have suffered.
Lloris, abandoned captain
The addition could have been much heavier without an excellent Hugo Lloris in the cages .
Sign of the difficulties of the French defence, the captain was solicited from the second minute on a shot from Memphis Depay, then multiplied the parries, including a double stop on the hour of play, then two parades against Depay shot on blow (74th), and an umpteenth rescue before the penalty scored by the attacker in the final seconds.
If he had had to do so much, it was because the French defenders were completely in a hurry.
The absence of midfielder Paul Pogba and defenders Samuel Umtiti and Lucas Hernandez, injured, was sorely felt: their substitutes Steven Nzonzi, Presnel Kimpembe and Lucas Digne were in big trouble.
It is also on a Nzonzi blunder that the Dutch opened the scoring just before the break. After a cross from De Jong, the sluggish midfielder, despite his 1.96m, completely missed his header and sent the ball behind him to Ryan Babel. The Besiktas’s shot was beaten by Lloris but Wijnaldum picked up the ball close to score (44 ‘).
A cruel scenario for Nzonzi who had been rather good in the blue jersey so far, but has failed to raise his level in this decisive match. Then the team of France has cracked again in the last seconds on a penalty Memphis Depay after a foul by Moussa Sissoko (90 + 6).
Mbappé disappoints
In front, it is Kylian Mbappé who has disappointed by multiplying the bad choices. Too much solo, he was never really dangerous, with a shot well above in the 15th minute or dribbling superfluous and very often blocked by Oranje defense.
Antoine Griezmann tried to organise the game a bit, but without enough print his mark. His head in the 10th minute was too easy to pick up.
Les Bleus have had little opportunity, with a rebound of Benjamin Pavard above (28th) or a good center Digne who found no one in the 35th, then the same kind of sterile attempts in a second period still to the advantage of the Dutch.
This defeat confirms that France is struggling when all its World Cup holders are not there. “We were not in, at the beginning of the match or in the second half, it was not us. We had a lot of missing players important for us and it was seen, “said Griezmann after the meeting.
Without being very inspired in the game, the Blues had nevertheless achieved good accounting operations so far with a draw and two victories in this new UEFA Nations League. They are now condemned to watch the match Germany-Netherlands by stamping on their armchairs.
