France-Switzerland: Five questions on THE trap match par excellence for the Blues

Special envoys to Bucharest

To discover

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What do the statistics of the France-Switzerland precedents say?

That the Blues are widely favored. The French find Monday evening an opponent they know well and who has not beaten them for 29 years. Michel Platini was the coach of the France team, when Didier Deschamps was only celebrating the 20th of his 103 caps. It dates from May 1992. Another time, another era. It's simple, in international competition, the Blues have never lost against Switzerland in four confrontations. The last two clashes date back to June 2016 during the Euro (0-0) or June 2014 (2-5 victory for Deschamps' men with notably goals from Benzema and Giroud) within the framework of the World Cup in Brazil. . It is up to the world champions not toodd and stick to the statistics.

To read also: Granit Xhaka sets the scene before France-Switzerland: "We want to punish their weakness"

Which team for the Blues against the Nati?

For the third time since the start of the Euro, the France team will present themselves with a different tactical device. No 4-3-3 as against Germany (1-0) or Hungary (1-1), nor 4-4-2 seen in front of Portugal (2-2), up to 3-5- 2. For multiple reasons and in particular a deep desire to place his attacking stars in the best conditions, Didier Deschamps should again change his plans. Adapting is his watchword, sometimes perhaps a little too much, and faced with the Swiss who evolve in the same system, “DD” could repeat an experience which was a success in November 2019 with a victory in Albania (0- 2) and a very good match from Antoine Griezmann, not yet fully returned to his Euro. This is what the starting XI of the Blues should look like: Lloris - Varane, Kimpembe,Lenglet - Pavard, Kanté, Pogba, Rabiot (or Hernandez) - Griezmann - Mbappé-Benzema.

What is Switzerland really worth?

According to former Nati defender Steve von Bergen, the Swiss achieved a “

mixed

”

first round

(1-1 against the Welsh, 0-3 against Italy and 3-1 against Turkey) . But for the man with 50 selections, the Blues will face a team "

boring to play, well organized and who knows how to defend. It is not easy to play against her… There are no stars, Mbappé or Benzema that does not exist with us, but we have a united team capable of achieving results. She demonstrated it in the League of Nations against Germany (1-1, 3-3) and Spain (0-1, 1-1). Switzerland is often good against these teams. ”

"

We know the strengths and weaknesses of the France team,

Captain Granit Xhaka advances.

We want to punish their weaknesses.

We are not afraid of the Blues.

To finally reach the quarter-finals of a great competition (unheard of since 1954), the 13th world nation is counting on Xherdan Shaqiri to surprise France.

“

It is from him that the gesture of madness can come.

In big meetings, he succeeds in bringing his paw.

He is clearly the player to which Switzerland is attached.

There are others around him but he is the creator of the Nati

”, explains Steve von Bergen.

What atmosphere for this round of 16 in Bucharest?

No excuse for heat or heatwave for the two nations. With one hour behind France, the start of this round of 16 will be at 10 p.m. local time under a temperature of around twenty degrees. Far from the 30-35 ° C encountered by the Blues during their stay in Hungary near Budapest. In addition to the climate aspect, Antoine Griezmann's partners will count on the support of 1,500 French supporters, passing through Bucharest to fulfill their role of twelfth man. As since the start of the Euro, with 7,500 fans in particular in Budapest for the third and last match of the first round against Portugal (2-2) last Thursday - tournament record - the world champions do not travel alone. Unfortunately,due to travel costs and health constraints linked to the Covid, the French contingent will be less substantial in the stands of the National Arena, an enclosure capable of usually accommodating 55,630 spectators. For this round of 16, 26,000 spectators will fill a stadium inaugurated on September 6, 2011… during a Romania-France (0-0).

Where and how to follow France-Switzerland?

The kickoff of this meeting is scheduled for 10 p.m. in Romania, or 9 p.m. in France. A match broadcast on TF1 and beIN Sports, but also to follow on Le Figaro.fr with our journalist Teddy Vadeevaloo. You can also find the final information from our special envoys to the Blues, Guillaume Loisy and Baptiste Desprez. As soon as the final whistle blows, our journalists will offer you the first reactions of the actors, a “Tops / Flops” of the match and other analyzes / decryption. A round of 16 which will take place at the National Arena under the direction of Argentinian referee Fernando Andrés Rapallini. Note that the France team will operate with its traditional colors, namely blue jersey-shorts and red socks while the Nati will be dressed in white.