French team: last gala in Italy, to fight against the poverty of the game

After the boredom of France-Israel, there is one last chance for the Blues of cl&ocirc ;start the year in style, a shock of prestige at Milan against Italy on Sunday, with revenge and first place in the Nations League group at stake.

Qualification in the bag, without glory after With Thursday's 0-0 draw, Didier Deschamps' men complete their six-match re-oxygenation training camp before moving on to the quarter-finals in March, and further on the horizon to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

If they want to avoid a double confrontation against Spain, Portugal or Germany, all top of their group, with the return match away from home, captain N'Golo Kanté's teammates must beat the Italians by at least two goals.

After the lesson of the first leg at the Parc des Princes (1-3), the Blues are driven by “a spirit of sporting revenge”, assures Lucas Digne.

It was the first match after the Euro-2024 semi-final lost against Spain (2-1), the launch of the 2024-2026 cycle which should lead to the World Cup got off to a bad start.

Kylian Mbappé was ostentatiously sulking, he then missed the October and November, out of form at Real Madrid and disturbed by suspicions of rape in Stockholm.

French national team midfielder N'Golo Kante during the Nations League match against Israel on November 14, 20234 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis © AFP – FRANCK FIFE

– Flat EEG –

“He's in a complicated situation, I'm behind him. He's spending the “This is not the happiest period of his career,” Deschamps explained on TF1.

To a lesser extent, the coach did not have a peaceful autumn either. There was no shortage of criticism of the poor play of the Blues, and the flat EEG of the fourth 0-0 of the year 2024, Thursday, did not help.

But while waiting for the return of his captain in March, the technician maintained his objective of “oxygenating” his group during the group stage of the League of Nations.

Bradley Barcola has settled in, even if like everyone else he missed his last match, and Randal Kolo Muani has scored six goals for the Blues in the calendar year, while he hardly plays anymore at Paris Saint-Germain.

Jules Koundé has established himself as a key player, Manu Koné has made an interesting debut and Mattéo Guendouzi has been good every time he has had his chance. luck.

Deschamps insists on Michael Olise, in pole position to succeed retired Frenchman Antoine Griezmann in the role of creative midfielder. But the Bayern player has not been convincing in his first four caps, including three starts.

– “Rectify the shot” –

Midfielder Adrien Rabiot at the French team training on November 11, 2024 in Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines © AFP – FRANCK FIFE

“We know his qualities,” defends Guendouzi. “He is one of the best in the world in his position, with his exceptional left foot. We are aware that sometimes the adaptation takes a little longer, but we are there behind him.”

As part of the squad rotation, Deschamps could line up Giuseppe-Meazza Digne on the left of the defense, for his 50th selection, and a midfield with Kanté, Adrien Rabiot and Guendouzi. Eduardo Camavinga is suspended.

The coach could also start Christopher Nkunku in attack and replace Ibrahima Konaté with William Saliba in the hinges, alongside boss Dayot Upamecano.

The Italians present a serious test before moving on to more competitive matches, the quarter-finals of the Nations League, or even the final four, then embark on the World Cup qualifiers in Mexico, the United States and Canada.

“They have a very good coach (Luciano Spalletti), warns Digne, I know him, I had him at Roma, he is a very great tactician and a very great man.”

Against Israel, “we were not good, it is up to us to rectify the situation on Sunday by showing another face”, promises the defender.

“Playing such a match is just great”, continues Digne, in a “mythical” San Siro, I had the chance to play several times there, never against Italy, but the atmosphere was incredible”. A final gala match.

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