Between injuries, viruses, uncertainties regarding certain states of form, the Blues approach the Euro and their first match against Austria on Monday June 7 with the status of favorite accompanied by a few questions. The group stage matches will reveal the physical level of certain individuals.
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This Sunday, the blue family was complete. For the last collective training in Paderborn before the French team enters the competition in theEuro 2024 with a first duel against Austria, all the players on the list composed by Didier Deschamps were present. Normal, do you think? Yes, but not obvious given the state of fitness of the troops in recent weeks, or even recent days.
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Aurélien Tchouaméni, key element of the French midfielder, has just returned to collective sessions and has not played a single minute since the beginning of May due to a stress fracture in his foot. As for Adrien Rabiot, another midfield captain, the hesitation regarding his starting position for the start of the competition lasted. Indeed, also injured, the Juventus player did not participate in the last friendly matches. Deschamps still aligned him during the pre-match tactical setup this Sunday, reports L’Équipe. A choice which favors stability, but which involves a touch of risk concerning the physical form that the player will display.
The question of rhythm
Two technical executives in physical delicacy even before the start of hostilities, that already seemed enough. “DD” also countered the situation by calling on a large group, notably composed of N’Golo Kanté, who is making his return, and who should give a valuable helping hand to the midfield. And Kingsley Coman, who seemed strong against Canada last week, reassured about his ability to bring danger at least for part of the match. Despite very limited playing time since February, the fault lies with a recalcitrant adductor and knee. ” VSwas more of a scare for you with the images than for me », he joked with journalists, in reference to his cries during knee pain felt during training with the Blues in mid-May.
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Still, other micro-concerns have accumulated in recent days. A virus circulated in the group and prevented this same Coman from training on Thursday. Théo Hernandez cut short his post-match session against Canada due to a blow he received. And Kylian Mbappé was left to rest for this same meeting (17 minutes played), then was preserved on Thursday with individual work in the gym due to a bruised knee. Nothing serious since all these beautiful people are gathered for the Sunday session.
Minimal, minor adjustments, it’s not worrying at all
On the other hand, the question of rhythm is essential in these international competitions. In 2018, when France was crowned in Russia, we observed the Blues starting the competition sluggishly with narrow victories against Australia (2-1) and Peru (1-0), before gaining momentum and reaching a real peak of form at the end of the course. Here, many blue assets have not benefited from this linear pre-Euro rise in power, at the heart of a preparation which was very short. More than for all the last major international competitions, with the exception of the World Cup in Qatar.
Preparation which is also punctuated by matches “ not completed », in the words of Kylian Mbappé. “ We shouldn’t be satisfied with this kind of match, but we are aware of it. The most important thing is to fix these little things for the first game, small, minor adjustments, it’s not worrying at all », continued the captain.
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France is clearly the favorite for this 2024 edition, alongside England and Germany, after the show of force in the opening match. But a little background music remains audible. The one that pushes the players to reassure at a press conference. Like Olivier Giroud who promises, regarding Mbappé, that “ It is not by missing one or two training sessions that he will lose his physical condition » and that he “ will be ready for the first match “. Rightly, probably, but to what extent?