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England-France: a summit to dream (even) bigger

2022-12-09T17:58:11.231Z


The defending champions are contesting a fiery shock this Saturday against the English rival, more dangerous than ever. At stake, a place in the semi-finals of the World Cup.


Special envoy to Doha

The journey in the Qatari desert continues for the France team.

With a new stage by the al-Bayt stadium in al-Khor, an enclosure of nearly 70,000 seats resembling a Bedouin tent, located 50 kilometers north of Doha.

For a total change of scenery before reuniting with an old acquaintance… In its quest for a double as crazy as it is improbable, the band of Didier Deschamps is tackling a big piece, this Saturday evening (8 p.m., TF1, beIN Sports) .

Facing an England in constant progression after its 2018 semi-final in Russia and its place of finalist in 2021 during a Euro disputed (in part) at home, the fight promises to be intense.

Powerful.

And above all intoxicating.

At stake, a place in the (very) closed circle of the four best nations in the world,

pride and prestige

The similarities between the two nations are disturbing and, in addition to their recent career, the face of the Three Lions recalls that of the Blues before the coronation of Russia, between a coach (Gareth Southgate) criticized, young people with high potential (Foden, Saka, Rashford , Bellingham) and executives looking for a global title (Kane, Walker, Maguire) to establish their reputation.

Between two selections who know each other by heart, but who have never faced each other in a knockout match in the World Cup, the duel promises to be epic and fiery, the battle tough and intense.

For in the end a single winner in a trance and a beaten one forced to pack up, morale at half mast.

Read alsoFrance-England, the long history of a rivalry that has softened over the years

For the Blues, the situation is clear.

If Noël Le Graët, in our columns on Tuesday, put forward the idea of ​​​​a contract extension for Didier Deschamps even in the event of defeat on Saturday evening, the title holders do not stop at presidential considerations.

Matter of pride.

Prestigious.

For their first match at the top in this World Cup, they want to strike a blow.

And send our English friends back to London.

Difficult to hide and do otherwise when you have in your ranks the best player in the world, executives thirsty by the idea of ​​a historic double and young people eager to level up with a golden generation.

Incredibly relaxed and with unfailing serenity at a press conference on Friday, Didier Deschamps approaches this meeting with a detachment that challenges.

Simple way to transmit your good vibes to your group?

Willingness to take advantage of every moment not knowing what the coming days will be like in the event of turbulence?

By sweeping the Three Lions on Saturday evening, who have only had Kylian Mbappé nightmares all week, the Blues would achieve the objective set before leaving for Qatar.

With all the miseries known upstream, the mission would already be largely successful, but it would not be enough for this band of hungry people whose challenge against England will say a lot about what they really have in their stomachs.

Impossible to dream of a more beautiful Saturday evening in the desert.

Source: lefigaro

All sports articles on 2022-12-09

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