Special Envoy to Dublin
Or follow Ireland-France?
Place in the second return match of the vice-world champions Monday evening in Dublin.
After the demonstration at the Stade de France on Friday (4-0) at the start of qualifying for Euro 2024, the Blues of new captain Kylian Mbappé have an appointment in the temple of Aviva Stadium to confirm the beautiful promises.
A match to follow from 8 p.m. on our Figaro site with our live commentary from Jeremy Vasseur, and information from our special correspondent in Ireland, Baptiste Desprez.
The kickoff of this meeting, broadcast by our colleagues from TF1, will be given at 8:45 p.m. (7:45 p.m. local time).
How did the Blues digest their spectacular evening at the Stade de France?
Eat well, sleep well.
Smiling, Dayot Upamecano, the new boss of La Défense, had delivered the procedure for the days to come before the meeting in Dublin.
After taking advantage of their families and friends in the lounges of the Stade de France on Friday evening after the slap inflicted on the last quarter-finalists of the World Cup (4-0), certainly deprived of major players because of an indigestible chicken curry, the Blues have recovered.
Calmly.
Saturday, light session in Saint-Denis for the holders and a little more advanced on the side of the substitutes.
Monday at the end of the morning, direction Ireland with a departure from Enghien-les-Bains and training the day before the match on the lawn of the Aviva Stadium.
All the lights are green, with an empty infirmary and total confidence, for Deschamps' men,
eager to improve and already consolidate their first place in the group in these qualifications for Euro 2024. With two (large) victories in as many matches, against the other cador and one of the outsiders of the group, the road to Germany would already be well marked out.
When you know that the rest of the calendar will offer Greece and Gibraltar to the French, there is nothing to fear...
What should the French team improve in Dublin?
After four goals on the clock, a confident captain (two goals), a goalkeeper who saves penalties (at the end of the match against Depay), a solid hinge and a collective desire to be conquering, difficult to foresee gray areas in the copy made by the Blues on Friday evening.
And yet, all was not perfect.
Against Ireland, it will be interesting to see in particular the activity and the rendering of the right lane, which suffers from the comparison with that of the left, composed of Hernandez and Mbappé.
The Koundé-Coman duo against the Oranje was solid if not attractive.
The Munich, so brilliant in club, struggles to shine in selection.
In his match with Pavard, the Barcelonian, holder since the 2nd match of the World Cup as a right-back,
meets the specifications of Deschamps but will have to do more.
From Monday against Ireland?
Unless the coach decides to revive Pavard.
A sign that the duel remains alive.
And that this position remains the least provided in terms of pool compared to all the others.
Which team should Didier Deschamps line up?
The uncertainty hovers and the coach prolongs the suspense since he did not carry out a set-up on Sunday evening during the session at the Aviva Stadium.
Doubts remain between bringing the victorious Dutch team back in full or making some changes.
At what position?
Olivier Giroud could replace Randal Kolo Muani up front.
Kingsley Coman, slightly affected, sees in his rear view mirror Moussa Diaby, author of an attractive entry into play on Friday.
Finally in defense, Benjamin Pavard would welcome a new chance in place of Jules Koundé.
It would be the Munich player's first start with the team since the World Cup opener against Australia.
What is the level of Ireland?
Weak.
48th nation in the FIFA rankings, the Irish selection does not box in the same category as the XV of clover, author of the Grand Slam at the last Six Nations Tournament and big favorite for the Rugby World Cup which will take place in France in September and next October.
Absent from the last two World Cups and Euro 2021, Ireland have second-class players but find hope with the presence of Evan Ferguson, 18-year-old striker who plays for Brighton in the Premier League, scorer last Wednesday against to Latvia (3-2) on his international debut.
Enough to shake the Blues?
Not sure.
On paper, the gap is huge between the two countries.
But the Irish will count on the support of an entire people, and a packed Aviva Stadium.
Is Thierry Henry's hand digested in Ireland?
It's been almost 13 years and if the iconic sequence took place at the Stade de France, the Irish still remember it.
To varying degrees.
Time has had its effect, irony and teasing have now replaced anger and indignation.
For amnesiacs, in 2009, during the France-Ireland return barrage, offering the precious sesame to the 2010 World Cup, Thierry Henry had aroused controversy by controlling with his hand the equalizing goal of William Gallas which sent the Blues to South Africa.
For several days, the 1998 world champion had suffered dumps of insults for his gesture.
In the land of Guinness, some dive back into their memories.
Testimonials to read in our story.
