League of Nations: Les Bleus crush Israel and offer themselves a little comfort

Deprived of its captain Kylian Mbappé and the newly retired international Antoine Griezmann, the French team did not force his talent to easily dominate Israel (4-1) in the Nations League, offering himself a little comfort in a very complicated period, Thursday à Budapest.

In the tiny Bozsik Arena in the Hungarian capital, which has hosted the Israeli national team's home matches since the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023 and the IDF counter-offensive in Gaza, and in pouring rain, Les Bleus produced a rather mixed performance, hardly enough to raise questions about their level, only making the difference at the very end of the match.

In front of a very small crowd (2,226 spectators), Didier Deschamps' troops, as in recent months, failed in offensive animation and creativity, struggling to really get the game going against the 79th Fifa nation, which conceded a third defeat in as many outings in this competition.

French striker Christopher Nkunku (c) scores against Israel, October 10, 2024 in Budapest © AFP – Attila KISBENEDEK

The essential was certainly ensured thanks to an innocuous strike from Eduardo Camavinga, helped by a gross handball from the unfortunate Israeli goalkeeper Omri Glazer (7th), a great personal feat from the returning Christopher Nkunku (28th) and two goals in the final minutes from Matteo Guendouzi (87th) and Bradley Barcola (89th).

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But this second success in a row after the one Lyon brought back in September against Belgium (2-0) will not add anything to the glory of the Blues. Because, in addition to a too predictable game, the vice-world champions had a little scare by conceding the equalizer in the 24th minute on a header from Omri Gandelman, strangely forgotten by William Saliba.

– Lack of character and imagination –

Enough to tarnish the performance of the Tricolores, who nevertheless really needed to boost their morale after the upheavals of the last few days, marked by Griezmann's farewells and the controversy over Mbappé, not called up to treat a left thigh injury but starting for Real Madrid on Saturday in La Liga.

French midfielder Matteo Guendouzi (c) scorer against Israel, October 10, 2024 in Budapest © AFP – FRANCK FIFE

Deprived of any technical leader, France logically lacked character and imagination. Criticisms that have stuck to the heels of this team since the so disappointing Euro-2024 during which it had scored only one goal in the game.

Without Mbappé and with the departure of “Grizou”, Deschamps lacks experienced executives. If Israel did not really have the means to take advantage of it, the trip to Belgium on Monday risks being on a whole other level.

The main satisfaction on the French side came from Nkunku, who was injured too often and who was back in the selection for the first time since June 2023. In addition to his goal, the first in 11 selections, the Chelsea player, sometimes on the left, sometimes in the center as in the second half, was rather active while Ousmane Dembélé experienced his usual waste despite several attempts (12th, 32nd, 44th, 52nd, 63rd).

This victory somewhat eases the pressure weighing on the shoulders of Deschamps, who has not yet managed to fully revive his team and chase away the ghosts of the Euro. He has no interest in seeing his players sink in Brussels in four days under penalty of continuing to live in a zone of turbulence.

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