Unhappy finalist of the World Cup, the France team has however affirmed its status as a major nation in world football. And now, what awaits the Blues?
The France team has therefore not risen to the same level as Italy and Brazil, the only two nations in history to have managed to retain their title of world champion. But in Qatar, the Blues have undeniably marked the history of French football, in more ways than one. This World Cup appeared as a transfer of power, a change of generation among the Habs, between a Hugo Lloris become record holder of selections with France, an Olivier Giroud now top scorer in the history of the Blues, and young talents to whom the future seems promised. If Kylian Mbappé has once again left his mark on the competition by finishing top scorer (8) at just 24 years old, already totaling 12 goals in two appearances, Dayot Upamecano has emerged as the future of the French defense, just like Aurélien Tchouaméni or Adrien Rabiot in midfield. In front, Marcus Thuram and Randal Kolo Muani showed great promise.
A future with or without Deschamps?
In the last five international competitions (Euro 2016, CDM 2018, Euro 2020, Nations League, CDM 2022), France have reached the final four times. Except for the failure in the quarterfinals at Euro 2020 (disputed in 2021), the Blues have once again asserted themselves as one of the best nations in world football. A consistency over the last decade (also taking into account the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup) due, certainly to the sporting talent of the players, but also in large part to Didier Deschamps. For eight years, the coach has managed to shape a team capable of responding to all major events and to sublimate certain players. Thus, the repositioning of Antoine Griezmann in midfield, with a real defensive role in addition to his foresight in the offensive animation of the Habs, was the winning poker move of “DD” during the World Cup. He thus managed to create a balance in his starting lineup, despite the withdrawals of N’Golo Kanté and Paul Pogba, two players with a significant offensive and defensive slaughter. His strength also results in his ability to overturn the table, as in the final, not hesitating to take out two of his executives (Giroud and Dembélé) to bring in two novices (Thuram and Kolo Muani), upsetting his system of play. which he had not touched since the start of the competition. Cheeky, but (lately) effective. The mark of the big ones? Certainly.
If his future at the head of the France team is now in his hands (he has fulfilled his objective of reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup), will Didier Deschamps re-enlist, he who leads the selection for ten years now? At the head of a golden generation, he seems to have succeeded (or almost) in everything. The Euro, a competition he never won as a coach, could however be the new objective of “DD”. In Germany, the Blues will try to wash away the insult of 2016 and the defeat in the final, at home, against Portugal (0-1). An act which was however founding for the Tricolors. But to arrive across the Rhine, it will first be necessary to pass the qualifications: start of the clashes in March, before a new salvo in June and a last phase in the fall. It will be a question, once again, of assuming its status as a major nation in world football.
What is the calendar of the French football team?
The next matches of the France football team will all be linked to the qualifiers for Euro 2024. France are in Group B, alongside the Netherlands, Ireland, Greece and Gibraltar. Here is the match schedule:
- March 24, 2023 : France – Netherlands (Stade de France)
- March 27, 2023 : Ireland – France
- June 16, 2023 : Gibraltar – France
- June 19, 2023 : France – Greece (Stade de France)
- September 7, 2023 : France – Ireland (Stade de France)
- October 13, 2023 : Netherlands – France
- November 18, 2023 : France – Gibraltar (Stade de France)