Special envoy to Vienna
Elbow on the knee in a squatting position on the Hadjuk Split training ground on Tuesday during the last sunny session before joining Vienna the next day, Didier Deschamps observes the smallest details of an opposition supported by Guy Stéphan, distills a few words, but keeps a distance, discreet.
Face closed and still very affected by the death of his dad, the coach is not satisfied with the production of his troops, beaten by Denmark (1-2) and hung in Croatia (1-1) during the first two days of the League of Nations.
If he remains positive and mobilizing in his communication to the outside, aware of the state of fatigue of the moment, the boss of the Blues expects something else from the last two meetings of this international sequence of June, against the
Austria on Friday in Vienna and at the Stade de France on Monday with a reunion against the Croats.
A game sector occupies the minds of the French staff: defense.
Six months from the World Cup, the construction site promises to be substantial and in the history of Deschamps, no one can believe that the French team can land with a crumbly rearguard, lacking in reference points and not in place. at the end of the year to defend his title.
It would be against his nature.
Today, the questions remain, the doubts too, after the two inconclusive outings in this aspect of the game from the Blues.
Didier Deschamps in training on Tuesday in Split, Croatia FRANCK FIFE / AFP
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Deschamps militates for the three-way defense
By returning to a four-man defense Monday in Split, "DD" surprised his world.
With the idea above all of adapting to the constraints of the moment, namely the absence for injury (Mbappé) or turnover (Benzema, Griezmann) of its three stars.
Definitely a default choice.
“
I am not closed
, he attests.
I may change the system again, I don't forbid myself anything.
These Nations League matches are also there to prepare for the huge deadline that awaits us at the end of the year in Qatar.
"But Deschamps keeps repeating that he wants to"
put in the best disposition
» its elements.
As Mbappé and Griezmann do not play on the sides, as Benzema is a real axial player, the 3-4-1-2 will be the system, unless one of them is downgraded from the World Cup.
Proof of this is that in making his list, the coach clearly announced that Pavard was called up as a right axial – even if he played on the side on Monday – and that an element like Ousmane Dembélé had also stayed at home. because of his profile that is not well suited to this system put in place since last fall.
Translation, when all the offensive stars are there: three-man defense, when there is breakage or coaching, Deschamps believes he can count on the four-man option behind.
A plan B that must not become a plan A.
Jonathan Clauss FRANCK FIFE / AFP
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On the right, the match is (very) open among the pistons
With Kingsley Coman and Jonathan Clauss (Benjamin Pavard has never been an option in this game system), the staff of the Blues has two elements with completely different profiles (on the left, Théo Hernandez and Lucas Digne have generally been present for months ).
The Munich player, who prefers to play as a left winger, continues to strive to meet his coach's expectations.
A good student, disciplined, voluntary, he makes defensive efforts to withdraw but inevitably, this impacts his contribution on the other side of the field.
Kingsley Coman CHRISTIAN HARTMANN / REUTERS
Holder last Friday at the Stade de France against the Danes, he almost never managed to make a difference on his side, as if the multiplication of races had started on him physically.
Different feeling at Jonathan Clauss.
The Lensois, who has only one tenure in four selections, is a seasoned piston, coming out of a good season in Ligue 1. Despite everything, his tasteless entry against the Dalmatians (he causes the penalty), in the midfield position right, did not weigh in his favour.
Impossible to judge him under such conditions.
At 29, Clauss arrives in a group that knows each other, takes its marks and will not have fifty opportunities to score points.
It is up to him to seize his chance in the event of tenure by the end of the internship.
His place for the World Cup depends on it.
Ibrahima Konaté FRANCK FIFE / AFP
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In the axis, the fight promises to be fierce
Who says defense with three (in the axis), necessarily says more chances to appear there.
At this little game, and in the absence of Raphaël Varane - whose exit on injury against Denmark coincided with the disintegration of the French block - the cards are reshuffled.
At least for the position of axial defender, in other words the boss of the rearguard.
“
I can play in this position
“Blowed, ambitious, Presnel Kimpembe, 11th captain under the DD era and rather bleeding in Croatia.
To see if the coach will choose this solution Friday evening in Vienna or will prefer to give another chance to Saliba, rather neutral Monday in Split.
If this is not the case, the competition promises to be fierce between the Parisian and Lucas Hernandez on the left axial side, just like between Pavard, Koundé and Konaté on the right.
Three men with different profiles and if the first two apply, the third and last to arrive has proven with Liverpool that he has solid qualities to put forward.
The solutions are multiple and the two upcoming meetings will also allow new tests to be carried out.
Hoping that this time the set copy dispels some doubts.
A real construction site.