Kylian Mbappe and France’s offensive energy could have faltered, but a sturdy base usually proves pivotal in main tournaments.
Their distinctive protection has been instrumental in propelling them to the Euro 2024 quarterfinals.
Les Bleus have managed simply three objectives throughout 4 European Championship matches to date. One got here courtesy of Mbappe’s penalty, whereas the opposite two have been personal objectives by opposing defenders, notably Jan Vertonghen’s essential contribution in a 1-0 victory over Belgium within the spherical of 16 on Monday.
However, France stored a 3rd clear sheet in a match during which they’ve allowed a solitary objective, a penalty by Poland’s Robert Lewandowski.
“We have been really solid defensively, and that is essential at this level,” mentioned coach Didier Deschamps after the victory in opposition to Belgium in Duesseldorf, which despatched France into the quarterfinals for the sixth time within the final seven main tournaments, with Portugal up subsequent.
“We have come a long way in that regard. It’s not just about defending well, because you also need to use the ball well from the back, and we did that. We are doing everything we can to not concede a goal.”
France’s defensive efficiency in Germany is outstanding as a result of Deschamps misplaced two key members of his again line after the 2022 World Cup once they misplaced on penalties to Argentina within the last.
Captain Hugo Lloris, who had been the first-choice goalkeeper for over a decade, retired from worldwide soccer following that match together with center-back Raphael Varane.
Lloris’s place in objective has been taken by Mike Maignan of AC Milan, and the 28-year-old has stepped up fantastically.
Against Belgium, he made three important saves, together with two from Kevin De Bruyne, and even the penalty he conceded in opposition to Lewandowski was a retake after he saved the primary effort however had stepped a fraction off his line earlier than the ball was struck.
Saliba earns his place
The again 4 in entrance of Maignan has remained unchanged, with Arsenal’s William Saliba and Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano within the center, Barcelona’s Jules Kounde on the proper, and Theo Hernandez of AC Milan on the left.
“They are top-level players,” mentioned Deschamps. “They deserve the credit, but you just need to look at the clubs they play for.”
Deschamps additionally identified that this was not even his protection throughout qualifying when Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate was a primary decide, and the likes of Lucas Hernandez and Benjamin Pavard additionally featured.
Saliba could have been excellent for Arsenal within the Premier League, however his solely begin in qualifying got here away to Greece after France’s place on the Euros had been secured.
He has now taken over from Konate and has grown in stature because the video games have gone on.
No different group left within the match has as spectacular a defensive file as France, with Spain having at the least let in a single objective from open play.
However, few sides have wanted to be as robust on the again given France’s travails in assault.
“That doesn’t put extra pressure on the defense,” mentioned Kounde, France’s man of the match in opposition to Belgium.
“If we are so solid at the back, it is because we are working so well as a team.”
Deschamps has prior to now been criticized for not making a France aspect filled with great expertise extra thrilling to look at.
Yet they scored 16 objectives and conceded eight in seven video games on the final World Cup.
Their run to victory on the 2018 World Cup featured a 4-3 win in opposition to Argentina and the 4-2 defeat of Croatia within the last.
France have proven they’ll rating objectives however may additionally look to Italy on the final Euros for example of how defensive solidity may be so necessary.
Italy didn’t concede a objective within the group stage in 2021 and let in simply 4 in 4 matches after that as they went on to win the trophy.
Midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni is just not apprehensive about type so long as France hold profitable in Germany.
“It doesn’t matter if we score three goals or 15 goals. We are still in the competition,” he mentioned after Monday’s match.
Source: www.dailysabah.com