Euro 2021, France - Switzerland: "We were not used to such largesse", the debrief of the match

At the end of his contract with PSG, Olivier Echouafni is, today, a technician free from any commitment.

Less than a week after obtaining the first title of champion of France in the history of its women's team, the Parisian club paradoxically decided on June 9 not to renew its coach.

While waiting for a new challenge, the former coach of the Bleues from September 2016 to August 2017, carefully followed the course of Didier Deschamps' men at the Euro.

At the end of the elimination Monday evening against Switzerland, he points in particular to the unusual defensive deficiencies of the world champions weighed moreover by individual failures.

The bankruptcy of the 3-5-2 scheme

The subject of many debates and questions before kick-off, the tactical choice in 3-5-2 was quick to show its obvious limits.

In six matches, preparation included (Wales and Bulgaria), this was the 4th system in use.

These tactical trials turned out to be crippling as we felt, faced with valiant and diligent Swiss, the players totally turned upside down, in need of benchmarks.

Read alsoEuro 2021, France-Switzerland: the consequences of the elimination of the Blues

“We had to take into account various parameters. In the absence of a real left side, this system with three axial defenders could make sense, notes Echouafni. But any change requires a logical time to adapt. Didier had undoubtedly worked on it, especially in September 2020 against Sweden and Croatia, but with other men. He had to adapt. Unfortunately, the Blues take a goal quite quickly and that necessarily complicates things. With this advantage, Switzerland has managed to regroup. And we did not manage to find the necessary spaces in the first half. We did not have the necessary mastery. He missed too many things, width in the high position for example. In particular, most of the players did not offer enough solutions or availability. We didn't have electricity. "

The return to a more proven formula

Faced with the difficulties in assimilating the starting system, Deschamps was able to rectify the situation at the end of the first half with a passage to 4-4-2 and the incorporation of Coman.

"It gave the Blues a balance both offensive and defensive and complementarities, underlines the former coach of PSG.

After the break, we found the Blues more where we really expected them.

With their backs to the wall, they were a little more at their level for at least 25 minutes.

The penalty rejected by Hugo had the effect of waking up everyone.

There was more movement and simplicity.

We were treated to beautiful sequences initiated by the three in front.

I also want Pogba's goal as proof.

On this action, there was almost everything.

Speed, rhythm and intensity.

With the players making up this team and their technical quality, we could imagine seeing them reproduce such sequences much more often ”.

Too crumbly tusk

Even if the defeat of the Blues can not be attributed to a single sector of play, the defense bears a large share of the responsibility. Pavard thus lost nine balls, Varane eight and Rabiot twenty-two. The magnitude of these figures claps and calls out. Only Lloris is free from any reproach. “Having a two-goal lead and being unable to close the shop has proven to be detrimental,” observes Echouafni. We were overcome by an unusual feverishness and we were literally punched. We weren't used to such largesse. On all the deep balls, France was in danger. Rabiot, for example, did the team a favor, but he was not at his post. It is, thus, too far from the action on the second Swiss goal. A true specialist would not have left so much latitude to the opposing attacker. Everything is linked.And on the center, we anticipate a little too much and we get trapped by Seferovic. To concede three goals is heavy ”.

Pogba-Kanté, a diesel version duo

A half time to adjust the sights and erase their imperfections.

“Both circles struggled to tame the initial pattern of play.

Less for Kanté, moreover, accustomed to operating in this way with Chelsea and holder of benchmarks than for Pogba.

They struggled to cover too large a part of the ground.

After the break, they picked up speed and were much more convincing, especially in the recovery.

By moving back in sentry, a post where he has the game in front of him.

Kanté made a lot more interceptions and was a lot more useful.

He ran everywhere.

Taking advantage, for his part, of the more eccentric position of Griezmann, Pogba himself behaved as a real backward playmaker.

He took responsibility for the use of the ball by delivering some pretty impressive laser passes ”.

A failing physique

Some agree to recognize it: the Blues pulled a lot on the rope in the group phase and they hardly had any fuel left in the engine.

The remark is particularly valid for Mbappé, with his Euro at zero goals, but also for Griezmann who appeared very blunt.

The Barcelona player participated this Monday in his 73rd game since July 1, 2020. “It is obvious, but it proceeds from an implacable logic in view of the number of matches of some in club this season in very particular conditions linked to the pandemic, confirms Echouafni.

The Blues left a lot of strength and energy during the first matches, some played under very high temperatures.

They gave it their all.

On the investment, they are irreproachable ”.