Attention, great cold on the Blues.
If the temperature in Helsinki (Finland) on Tuesday evening will officially exceed 5 degrees, the feeling on the lawn of the Olympic stadium will drop well below 0. A factor to be taken into account for the French team, already qualified for the Coupe du world 2022, facing a Finnish selection, second in the group, in search of history.
The Eagle Owls - nickname acquired in 2007 on the evening of an appearance as long as miraculous of the raptor in this same stadium - have never played in the World Cup.
A victory against the reigning world champions would send them into play-offs and that would already be grandiose for a nation of 5.5 million people.
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"I never thought I would have the opportunity to go to a World Cup," admits defender Niko Hamailanen.
To be able to do this is a blessing.
I'm just happy for myself and the team for all the success we've had so far.
"The Blues are doubly warned: Finland wants to write its history and it also has the experience of a 2-0 victory at the Stade de France, in November 2020, against the redesigned Tricolors.
They will be 33,000 spectators (sold out stadium) to encourage him on Tuesday evening.
“I'll be there with my son to have the chance to see Mbappé up close,” says Sami, a taxi driver.
Keeping players under pressure
A priori, they will not be disappointed. Because if Didier Deschamps has the will to make some changes compared to the holders of Saturday's 8-0 against Kazakhstan, the attacking trio Griezmann-Mbappé-Benzema could start again. “The repetition of training, but especially matches, allows us to refine the technical relationship, the complementarity with the ball and when traveling. The more time there is, the more repetitions, the better, ”says the coach about his attackers. If there is a change at the start of the match, it could concern Benzema.
One certainty: captain Hugo Lloris, 135 selections on the clock, will be the holder and will come a little closer to the record of Lilian Thuram (142 capes).
For the rest, the entries of Aurélien Tchouaméni in the middle, Lucas Digne on the left side, Benjamin Pavard on the right or Kurt Zouma in the axis are possibilities.
"It is not a friendly match", also recalls Didier Deschamps.
What to keep under pressure his players a year before the trip to Qatar.
In the land of ice hockey, the fall is not prohibited for the Blues.
But a success would allow us to slip on the good dynamics of the fall.