TOPS
Jim Gottfridsson, the Swedish maestro
A recital.
Here is what the Swedish center half offered to the Budapest public, even making a bitter Vincent Gérard say after the match: "He carried us around the whole match."
However, at 29, the player from Flensburg (Germany) is no longer a discovery.
But this Friday, he recited his score to perfection.
The Swede is neither the fastest, nor the most powerful, nor the most leaping.
But he knows everything (well) to do.
With his 9 goals (out of 10 attempts) and 6 assists, he alternated play perfectly, never giving the French defense the chance to adapt.
Above all, Gottfridsson took responsibility in every hot moment, in particular by signing three goals in a row at the end of the first period.
Or even the last goal of his own, as a symbol.
Andrea Palicka, the decisive parade
The future goalkeeper of Paris SG will have done everything for the Blues.
But not for the whole game.
Indeed, after a very solid first period on his part with 7 saves, Andrea Palicka then experienced a delicate passage at the start of the second period, even leaving his place to Peter Johannesson for about twelve minutes.
Before resuming it to make two decisive saves in the last three minutes, including one, monumental, on Ludovic Fabregas at close range five seconds from the end.
And when we said he had done everything for the Olympic champions, we also mention his… three goals in the first act, with surgical precision from his own six meters.
So that after 20 minutes of play, he was simply the best scorer of the match.
Aymeric Minne took date
Even if everything was not perfect and his game remains perfectible, Aymeric Minne will remain as the most revelation of this Euro on the French side.
Already brilliant in his previous outings in a dual role as centre-half or left-back, depending on the positioning of Nikola Karabatic, the 24-year-old Nantes player simply scored 8 goals in the second half (out of 9 shots).
With three assists as a bonus.
And he almost also provoked the expulsion of Albin Lagergren.
If France was able to believe in it until the end, it is mainly thanks to this Minne who could well become the center half that Guillaume Gille is looking for, instead of a Nedim Remili who can return to his first love back right when he comes back from injury.
FLOPS
French goalkeepers in disarray
11%.
4 saves on 38 opposing shots.
Unfortunately, the game against Denmark was not just a warning, but the beginnings of the collapse of the French goalkeepers, who were so brilliant at the start of the competition.
In particular a Vincent Gérard for whom there will have been a before and after France-Montenegro, this match of the main round where he was expelled in the first period for an outing from his poorly controlled six meters.
At the time, this seemed anecdotal.
But behind, the PSG goalkeeper never regained the efficiency of his first matches.
And if Pardin had replaced him magnificently against the Montenegrins, this will not have been the case during this semi-final.
Compared to the 30% stoppages of Swedish goalkeepers, the statistic hurts.
Dika Mem, the astonishing discretion
Against Denmark, the right-back sounded the revolt in the second half by multiplying the goals.
Like a brilliant Euro, except for a poor performance against Iceland.
Alas, this Friday, it is the “Icelandic” Mem who will have been on the field with only two goals out of six attempted.
A very low total for the one who usually turns to ten attempts at the opposing goal minimum.
Above all, his second period, without rhythm, without taking the initiative (no goal scored) calls out to the one who, more and more, is establishing himself as the number 1 offensive asset of the Olympic champions.
Now, let's not forget that he is only 24 years old and even though his experience is more that of a 28-year-old player, sometimes his youth can still catch up with him.
