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DESCHAMPS THE VILLAIN?

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The world champions France got knocked out of Euro 2020 at the hands of a resilient Switzerland side.

The star studded squad of France succumbed to the energy shown by the Swiss. France looked in control for large parts of the game but the Swiss never gave up. A game that had raw emotions and so many ups and downs that left the fans absolutely breathless.

 

The game has raised a lot of concerns regarding what went so wrong for France in the match against Switzerland and Euro 2020 in general. France were seen as one of the favourites to lift the trophy.  Thus it is necessary to understand the problems that caused the world champions to falter.

 

We are here to analyze these concerns. Hopefully we can offer much needed insight as to what this France squad led by Deschamps could have done better at Euro 2020.

THE FIRST PROBLEM- SQUAD SELECTION

 

France probably had the deepest pool of elite players to choose from going into Euro 2020.

Their squad depth is frankly terrifying, the number and quality of options at Deschamps’ disposal were verging on insane before going to the tournament.

Deschamps’ 26 man squad consisted of 3 goalkeepers, 9 defenders , 7 midfielders and 7 attackers and on paper the squad looked balanced.

 

Although there were two surprising exclusions, especially that of Tanguy N’Dombele and Theo Hernandez. These exclusions possibly cost France the game against Switzerland.

France euro 2020
(Image Courtesy: France Football/Twitter)

Out of the 9 defenders taken by Deschamps only four were capable of playing in the full back or wing back position. Benjamin Pavard ,Lucas Digne,Lucas Hernandez and Leo Dubois.

 

Just before the Euros the World Cup winning manager had experimented with Jules Kounde as one of the full backs. It showed very little success. Kounde who has emerged as a highly coveted young central defender this season at Sevilla seemed out of place playing as a full back in those games. It was baffling to see him being played out of position. But perhaps Deschamps had only thought of it as a last resort.

 

But his worst nightmares came true at Euro 2020. Both Lucas Hernandez and Lucas Digne got injured in the same game leaving France’s left back berth absolutely vacant, Deschamps threw on Rabiot in that game as cover and credit the Juventus midfielder he played like an average full back but France still looked like a really lopped sided team. There was no one providing natural width, support and cover to Kylian Mbappe from then on.

 

This eventually led to them shifting to a back 3 in the game against Switzerland and the rest is history.

This obvious hole in their squad for a marauding left back could have been solved with ease. Only if Deschamps had decided to take Theo Hernandez. The former Real Madrid star was spectacular for a Scudetto chasing AC Milan side when he was fit, which was not rare because he only missed a handful of games at the end of the season.

But before his injury the full back was in phenomenal form for the Rossoneri. Imagine him and Mbappe flying down France’s left wing at the Euros. They would have caused havoc together; it might have even got Mbappe’s best out of him, but more on him later.

The next shock exclusion was that of Tanguy N’Dombele. The Spurs man seemingly found his feet in the EPL last season in a very one dimensional Mourinho led Tottenham. He was excellent for the Lilywhites at the start of the season.

His sheer quality on the ball and his all round midfield displays should have made him the obvious candidate for the spot that was awarded to the likes of Thomas Lemar and Moussa Sissoko. Both of whom had very underwhelming seasons and have a very limited repertoire when compared to N’Dombele.

 

Also if Deschamps had taken Kounde he should have clearly started over Kimpembe, whose stock has taken a major hit in the last 18 months. He was below average for the majority of PSG’s season and lacked judgement at Euro 2020.

THE SECOND PROBLEM- TOO MUCH PRAGMATISM! AND NOT ENOUGH CONVICTION

 

Didier Deschamps is not the first manager to rely on a pragmatic approach in an international tournament and he won’t be the last. It is also true that a pragmatic approach tends to suit tournament based competitions.

But if you arguably have the deepest squad in international football maybe your tactics should suit your team’s strengths and weaknesses. But then again Deschamps pragmatic approach did lead them to a World Cup triumph.

Yet they were clearly the second best side when they faced ‘lesser’ oppositions at Euro 2020. French fans would have been hoping that the draw with Hungary was enough of a wake up call for Deschamps but sadly not. It really took them a while to get going in all the games they played as well.

Their play really seemed to lack conviction and precision in the first half of games leaving them all to do in the second half. It was clearly not a personnel problem as Deschamps’ tactics were holding this vibrant France squad back.

 

THE THIRD PROBLEM- A MISFIRING MBAPPE

 

Arguably the most talented player in world football and definitely a future Ballon D’or winner, the young Frenchmen really misfired at Euro 2020. The prolific attacker who led a Benzema-less France to World Cup glory in 2018 had a terrible Euro.

Mbappe was instrumental for France in 2018 and much the same was expected of at Euro 2020, as France were dubbed the favourites by many.

It just was not the PSG wingers tournament apparently. He was still amazing on the break and linked beautifully with Benzema throughout the Euros but could not get on the scoresheet. Mbappe kept getting into great positions but his finishing was just awful. He missed more than a few ‘sitters’ in respect to his lofty and deadly standards. When he walked up to take the decisive penalty against Switzerland all the revelations came crashing.His penalty although was struck with venom had very little direction and Sommer dealt with it with ease.

 

 

 

 

 

Vidur Arora
A Swansea City fan, who fell in love with the game watching Joe Allen play. Usually found in the wild with headphones in his ears and bobbing his head. Love his art too.

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