Four days after an easy victory against Luxembourg, the France team is moving up and will be entitled to more solid opposition against Canada.
It’s the last rehearsal, the time for the last adjustments, the last tests too. After a start to preparation disrupted by the absences of part of the group, retained in clubs, the French team is finally complete and Didier Deschamps took advantage of the last few days to take stock of everyone’s fitness levels less than a week before the start of Euro 2024.
Stronger opposition
Even more than individual cases, it is the collective project which mobilizes the coach and he will use this second friendly match against Canada to test his certainties and refine his automatisms. A much more interesting test in his eyes because the North American selection offers another adversity than Luxembourg. And if he liked the enthusiasm of his men in Metz, he expects the same attitude and perhaps other responses of a more technical and physical nature. “It’s an opponent who has more physical response. There could be a management part. It’s a team that held up well against the Netherlands, some players are in France”presented the French coach.
Distrustful as usual, he knows that this opposition will be an opportunity to adjust but also to give playing time to some who missed Wednesday’s meeting, like Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga and Ferland MendyAurélien Tchouaméni remaining in care to recover from his foot injury. “The most important thing is to feel good physically. Tactically, we have to see if we are ready. This is the last time where we have to put everything in place (…) It will be a good test, at the right time”judge Antoine Griezmann whose role as facilitator of the French game continues to be refined with each outing.
A good test especially as Canada is also looking for certainty 11 days before the Copa America, which it will begin against Argentina, world champion and American title holder. A more than tough start for Jonathan David and his teammates who will be keen in Bordeaux to show a better face than on Thursday. In the Netherlands, they lasted 50 minutes before conceding 4 goals in half an hour. Not really ideal for confidence. It is therefore a vengeful opponent and one whose pride is touched that the Blues will face. Ideal for adding a touch of intensity.
Last in France for Giroud
The fact remains that this Sunday’s match will not only have sporting value. It will indeed be very special for Olivier Giroud. At 37 years old, the top scorer in the history of the Blues will set foot on a French pitch for the last time with the rooster jersey crowned with its two stars. A moment that risks being very emotional, in any case, that’s what Antoine Griezmann hopes. “It will be his last match in France with the France jersey, it’s his last dance, I hope he gets a nice tribute. He deserves it. He’s the ideal player for a coach. Lots of respect for him and everything he did”he confided at a press conference.
Substitute against Luxembourg because he arrived late at the rally due to a promotional tour of his club AC Milan in Australia, the future teammate of Hugo Lloris at Los Angeles FC could be started up front instead of Marcus Thuram. A symbolic choice as much as a tactical one, Giroud serving as a pivot and point of support for his teammates. Aware of the circumstances, and not insensitive, the coach refuses to be sentimental and remains focused on the match and the performance of his men. He will, however, not be against seeing his center forward shine against the North Americans because it will mean that he is ready for his last big meeting with the Blues. Make no mistake, the objective is not in Bordeaux this Sunday but in Germany in a week. It’s up to the Tricolores to continue to gain momentum.