Football: Les Bleus humiliated by Italy and in full slump

For its return after a disappointing Euro, the French team did not not at all reassured on its condition by conceding a very worrying defeat in the League of Nations against Italy (3-1) which plunges it into full slump, Friday at the Parc des Princes.

We were expecting a reaction from the Blues, two months after a European Championship marked by offensive failure and soporific play. But Didier Deschamps' troops failed in a big way, unable to get the game going and losing heavily at home against a Nazionale that was in full crisis before arriving in Paris.

The reunion with the French public was supposed to rekindle a flame that had been extinguished in Germany between June and July. But the vice-world champions managed the enormous feat of offering an even sadder spectacle than at the Euro.

The fastest goal in the history of the national team, scored after 13 seconds by Bradley Barcola, could have suggested a completely different scenario. While the Tricolores had to wait until the semi-finals of the continental tournament to score in open play, this time they managed to do so from the kick-off, the Parisian striker having deceived his teammate at PSG Gianluigi Donnarumma after having stolen the ball from the feet of Giovanni Di Lorenzo.

Italy beat France (3-1) on the first day of the Nations League in Group 2 at the Parc des Princes (Paris) on Friday, September 6, 2024 © AFP – Franck FIFE

But this supersonic opening goal, Barcola's first goal for his sixth appearance in the French team, was deceptive. Les Bleus very quickly fell back into their Euro ways before being punished by a magnificent volley from Federico Dimarco, following a nice relay with Sandro Tonali (30th), then by a recovery from Davide Frattesi (51st) before the final thrust signed by Giacomo Raspadori (73rd).

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– Deschamps with his back to the wall –

The French team is therefore more than ever in trouble and remains handicapped by the same problems as in Germany: sluggish offensive animation and a glaring lack of collective control. For its coach, under fire from critics since the Euro and unable to find solutions to revive his men, it would be good to put things in order as soon as possible, if possible on Monday against Belgium in Lyon, otherwise the next few weeks will be under great pressure.

A part of the Parc did not hesitate to chant “Zizou, Zizou”, seeming to call for help from the legend Zinédine Zidane.

Deschamps wanted to use the Nations League to “oxygenate” his team. Barcola and novice Michael Olise were thus tasked with embodying this freshness and bringing in new blood. While the former confirmed his sparkling start to the season with PSG on the left side, the latter struggled on the right side after a promising start to the match.

The French team lost (1-3) against Italy on the first day of the Nations League in Group 2 at the Parc des Princes (Paris) on Friday, September 6, 2024 © AFP – Franck FIFE

For the two technical leaders Kylian Mbappé and Antoine Griezmann, the ordeal experienced at the Euro also continued at the Parc des Princes. The captain, who was returning to PSG's lair for the first time since leaving for Real Madrid, was once again a shadow of himself and was almost never dangerous, except for an attempt at the start of the match (7th).

As for “Grizou”, a historic player who was downgraded during the European Championship, he did not really manage to get his head above water and did not really have an impact on his team's game.

Even the defense, the only satisfaction of the Euro, was completely overwhelmed on the three Italian goals.

The problem affecting the French team therefore seems very deep and Deschamps, now with his back to the wall, is currently running out of ammunition to get it back on track.

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