Football: France extinguished by Canada before the Euro

The France team, with Kylian Mbappé only during the last quarter of an hour, made a final confusing copy against Canada (0-0), Sunday &n; Bordeaux for its last preparation match before Euro-2024.

More will have to be done against Austria on June 17 for the Blues' debut in the competition. They were less inspired than against Luxembourg (3-0), Wednesday in Metz, where Mbappé had carried them with two assists and a goal.

But without the captain , spared after a blow to the knee in the previous match and small problems with his back, the offensive expression of the Blues was very muddled, against an opponent who was disciplined but without genius.

His entry (74th) made the Bordeaux stadium roar with joy, but with him the Canadian lock did not break either, despite a last counter (90+3).

< p>The Netherlands, France's second opponent at the Euro, beat the “Canucks” 4-0 last week…

– Giroud celebrated –

French striker Olivier Goroud against Canada, June 9, 2024 in Bordeaux © AFP – FRANCK FIFE

Only Ousmane Dembélé, whom “Kyky” replaced, created differences. He delighted the Bordeaux public, who were just waiting to get excited, by drawing on his panoply of dribbles, hooks, small bridges, thrusts…

But his incisive actions only too rarely brought danger in front of the Canadian goal, for example a point-blank strike from N'Golo Kanté blocked by goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau (8).

At the start of the match, the Blues also hit the crossbar by Marcus Thuram (9), and Antoine Griezmann saw his cross shot, and deflected, graze the post (19).

Then, Didier Deschamps' team frankly softened, like this missed header from Dayot Upamecano, although in a very good position (34). Randal Kolo-Muani also ate a match point by hitting a header wide (90+1).

Olivier Giroud lined up at the forefront, and set with the captain's armband for his last match in France with the Blue jersey, did not weigh. He attempted an acrobatic recovery (61) just before being replaced, a gladiator exit, applauded by an audience who royally celebrated him throughout the match.

– Disappointing Camavinga –

Otherwise, the animation really left something to be desired, and this match did not provide many answers for the Blues before the European Championship.

Frenchman Eduardo Camavinga (l) against Canadian Alphonso Davies, June 9, 2024 in Bordeaux © AFP – FRANCK FIFE

In addition to the tenure of Giroud in place of Mbappé, the coach had changed three other players compared to Luxembourg.

“Dembouz”, ill (rhinitis) in Metz, therefore was the only one to do well.

Eduardo Camavinga, lined up for recovery with Kanté, was less dashing than with Real Madrid. He lost a few balls and received a warning for a foul on Koné (40).

William Saliba, starting at the hinge with Upamecano, provided defensive support, with two decisive saves ahead of Cyle Larin (67) and Jonathan Osorio (78), but he showed limits in the recovery.

The new system put in place by Deschamps in these two matches , a three-way defense in the possession phase with Théo Hernandez very high on the left side, caused fewer sparks than against Luxembourg.

The Milanese came out at the break, replaced on the left by Ferland Mendy, who had not yet played or worn this jersey since September 2022 (a 2-0 defeat in Denmark).

Like Kingsley Coman also played the last quarter of an hour, in place of a still disappointing Thuram, there are only the convalescents Aurélien Tchouaméni and Adrien Rabiot, and the two replacement goalkeepers, who did not play in this preparation.

The French did not show much against Canada, they were even hot when Liam Millar in turn hit the bar (47) or Saliba Osorio countered. But it is against Austria that we will have to be ready.

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