Deschamps’ offensive conundrum

He fixed his defense in the first three games, consolidated the midfield in the last two, the expected return of Antoine Griezmann in the starting eleven in the round of 16 against Belgium offers a new offensive puzzle for Didier Deschamps the coach of France, who has not repeated an attack in three games, not against Austria or against the Netherlands or against Poland.

At first, in the 0-1 victory against Austria played in Düsseldorf, they started with Ousmane Dembele on the far right, Marcus Thuram through the middle and Kylian Mbappé further left. France launched 44 attacks (only one more than Austria), had 14 shots (only three on target) and scored only one goal, an own goal. Maximilian Wöber.

Against the Netherlands, above

In the second, in the 0-0 against the Netherlands, between the broken nose of Mbappe, without risking his possession, even in a few minutes, the technician moved a piece due to the obligation of circumstances: he advanced to Griezmann from midfield up, while holding Marcus Thuram in the middle now Dembele on the right wing.

The result was 58 attacks and another 16 shots, but only three on goal for the Dutch team, with two missed opportunities. Griezmann, who suddenly became a substitute in the third and final match of the group stage, with the group order still pending for that match against Poland. He is not a reserve since November 30, 2022, also precisely at the close of the first phase of the 2022 World Cup.

Against Poland, on the bench

Deschamps also did not include in the midfield, as he has done many times in recent times, the footballer of Atlético de Madrid, who went to the bench, as well as Marcus Thuram (starter in the first two duels) with a bet on his new attacking trio for the return of Mbappe, masked and directly in the middle; with a stay of Dembele on the right and there is a route on the left to Bradley Barcola disabled in the first two crashes.

“It was a tactical choice, nothing more. I have many players, I have different cards in my hand. I want to have the most dangerous team for the opponent. We had Kylian, Barcola and Dembélé, This is a very dangerous forward. No problem with Antoine. It can happen to others. He played two almost complete games. I knew what he was capable of and he handled the change like a professional. Thuram He also became a substitute,” he said. Deschamps.

19 shots and a penalty goal against Poland

France tied at one, with an unusual number, again, of missed chances. He reached 62 attacks, with 19 shots, up to eight of them on goal thanks to the impressive performance of the Pole Lukasz Skorupski, just beat that with a penalty Mbappé. Out of 49 shots by France, there was only one goal in this first period. And there is no more margin for error.

This Monday the eighth comes out. And Belgium. Also the return to ownership, except for the surprise, of Griezmann, either in attack, where he aims, or in the middle of the field, where the line seems to be reaffirmed by the coach, who has had in the last two games N’Golo Kanté, Adrien Rabiot and Aurélien Tchouameni.

Changing the first two at game time lowered the scaffolding of the team, which was exposed to the sudden dominance of Poland, so it seems that they cannot do without them this Monday in Düsseldorf.

Griezmann’s fit

The lace of Griezmann to attack seems simpler, aside Mbappé and Dembéléwith the boat returned to the bench after his one-hour match against Poland, but it was not the first idea in the European Championship. Deschamps.

In the first match he was placed in that position in midfield, as a total player, which he has been practicing for a long time in France, but which keeps him away from the goal: he scored only two in the last 31 games played. with the French team.

The defense, meanwhile, was put together from the first to the third day. And more. The bet on William Saliba next to Dayot Upamecano It is stable. Ibrahima Konaté He has had fewer minutes in recent months and reached the European Championship “lacking rhythm”, as acknowledged by the Liverpool centre-back, who did not train this Saturday due to some discomfort, but will be available in Deschamps for Sunday’s session and Monday’s game.

He will play on the right side Jules Koundé, which must counter the explosive dribbling of Jeremy Doku. to the left, Theo Hernandez. in the back, Mike Maignanthe goalkeeper who has kept a clean sheet in two of its three Euro Cup matches to balance from behind all that has yet to be achieved up front.