At the Stade de France
A quack to start.
And a real disappointment in the ranks of world champions.
Unable to dominate a very shy and limited Ukrainian selection (1-1) this Wednesday, at the Stade de France, at the opening of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, the Blues lacked realism, pep, nerve and especially of ideas for achieving success that stretched out their arms to them.
A result that looks bad for the band of Didier Deschamps, never able to deliver the coup de grace and thus make life easier and smoother.
Aligning a team of cadors and bulging the torso is good.
It is still necessary to show it for eighty ten minutes.
What the French have not been capable of now forced not to fall into the trap expected in Kazakhstan on Sunday and in Bosnia on Wednesday.
For once, it would be really messy within three months of the start of the Euro.
The jewel of Griezmann ... who died like the others in the second half
For the only meeting of the Blues at the Stade de France in this international sequence, Didier Deschamps had yet opted for an eleven "made in" World Cup 2018. With nine globalists out of eleven holders.
With two exceptions, and not the least, the tenure of Adrien Rabiot in place of Paul Pogba, too fair, and that of Kingsley Coman on the right side of an attack already composed of Kylian Mbappé, Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud .
Hard to be more attractive on paper.
A resolutely offensive choice that did not take long to meet the coach's expectations in a one-sided first period against timorous Ukrainians who came to Saint-Denis with one goal: to avoid taking a new correction after the 7- 1 of last October.
The following will prove everyone wrong.
We are the first.
"
READ ALSO
- France-Ukraine: the jewel of Griezmann which was not enough for the Blues (video)
Whether on the right with Coman and Pavard, or on the left side Hernandez-Rabiot-Mbappé, the Blues kept stifling their opponent without printing a pace worthy of the greatest international matches.
No need in the face of a Ukraine of this level.
After two warnings signed Mbappé (9th) and Giroud (11th), it was Griezmann who released his family with a strike from the left wound (1-0, 19th).
A gem, his 34th in the selection is the equal of David Trezeguet in 4th place among the top scorers in the history of the Blues, which once again confirms his weight among the world champions and his ability to be precious when the scenario claims it.
All but a coincidence if, after blowing out his thirty candles last Sunday, the Barcelona equaled the record of Patrick Vieira with forty-four consecutive matches in the blue jersey.
Monstrous.
And revealing of a man who is having fun with the confidence of his coach.
To the point of being essential to this France team.
But like the others, the Catalan disappeared from circulation thereafter.
In the process, Coman could have collected a penalty (23rd) dried in the Buschchan area, and Giroud doubled the bet (32nd).
In vain.
The turning point of the match.
Bad head from Hernandez, lax Mbappé, late Kanté and unhappy Kimpembe
With unchallenged domination, in a Stade de France always so sinister deprived of its 80,000 spectators, we thought the Blues sure of their strength and serene.
Ready to consolidate their domination.
In strong.
In bosses.
Missed.
Worse, they fell asleep after returning from the locker room, punished by a goal gag from the Ukrainians after a bad head from Hernandez, a lax Mbappé in defense, Kanté late and Kimpembe unhappy with a goal against his camp on a poor harmless strike from Sydorchuk (1-1, 57th).
A lucky equalizer but revealing a big weak time of the champions.
Which lasted the entire second half.
And a real quack for the Blues not realistic enough to bend a meeting that stretched out their arms to them.
The result was not brighter despite the rotation operated by Deschamps (Pogba and Dembélé for Giroud and Coman, 63rd, then Martial in place of Mbappé, 77th) against eleven Ukrainians huddled in defense.
Without idea and without genius (3 shots on target out of 17), despite a strike from Coman (59th), Dembélé (88th) and a header from Kimpembe (89th).
At the final whistle, the Ukrainians were jumping for joy in front of the French head down on the return to the locker room.
Cowardly.
And beaten up for not having lived up to their status as world champions.
Read also
Qualif.
CM 2022: schedule and results
