France and Denmark emphatically ended a streak of 36 matches without a goalless draw at Russia 2018. Their 90-minute standoff in Moscow took both sides through to the last-16 but it represented something of a nadir for this World Cup, with France somehow managing to double down on their slow, turgid opening to the tournament. The game also posed further selection questions for Didier Deschamps as he attempts to wrestle some form from his supremely talented yet cripplingly uninspired squad. Most notably: what should he do with Nabil Fékir, the only player who posed a consistent threat against Denmark.
With France already assured of a place in the last-16, Deschamps made some changes for the Denmark game. Steve Mandanda replaced the rested Hugo Lloris in goal; Djibril Sidibé and Presnel Kimpembe played in defence; Steven N’Zonzi took Paul Pogba’s place in midfield; and Thomas Lemar and Ousmane Dembélé played out wide in place of Blaise Matuidi and Kylian Mbappé. The tired and trusted 4-4-2 remained.
The hope was that this team would offer more balance. Lemar, who stood out on the left of the Monaco midfield when they stormed to the title in 2017, was meant to provide the intensity and pace opposite Ousmane Dembélé that Blaise Matuidi had not against Peru; N’Zonzi was there to offer more discipline and defensive coverage than Pogba, releasing Ngolo Kanté to press higher up and firefight across the midfield; and Djibril Sidibé was supposed to give the team some much-needed width from full-back. That was the theory anyway. However, yet again, France were lacking in attacking cohesion, did not move the ball quickly and did not press with enough vigour.
Chopping and changing players is nothing new for Deschamps. He tinkered his way through the group stages of Euro 2016 before stumbling across a setup that coalesced. When 1-0 down to the Republic of Ireland at half-time in the round of 16, Deschamps switched Kanté for Kingsley Coman and moved Antoine Griezmann inside to play off Olivier Giroud in a 4-4-2 formation. Within 20 minutes Griezmann had scored twice, Giroud had an assist and France were as good as through.
The hope before the Denmark game was that, having fumbled his way through the group again, Deschamps would once more discover some form in the depths of his squad. He did not have much luck.
Lemar’s timid club form continued on to the international arena; Sidibé was untroubled defensively yet barely made an impact in attacks; and Dembélé produced nothing more than a few nice touches. Nzonzi was the only starter to put Deschamps under genuine pressure to keep him in the team. He was assured on the ball, imposing and physical when necessary, and disciplined throughout alongside Kanté. Pogba, previously untouchable, is now under threat.
The standout player in the game was not one of the starters but Nabil Fékir, who came on for Griezmann midway through the second half. He looked characteristically positive and inventive, particularly in contrast to Griezmann, who has now put in three tired and wayward displays at this World Cup. Perhaps accentuated by the dross around him, Fékir came closest to awakening France, and the Luzhniki crowd, from their slumber. The Lyon captain again gave France a different dimension to Giroud’s physicality or the speed and directness of Mbappé or Dembélé. The same can be said of his previous cameo displays, particularly against Australia.
Fékir, like Griezmann, is far more comfortable in a central role. He has impressed when replacing Griezmann in recent fixtures and when he started at the tip of a diamond in France’s first warm-up game before the World Cup. However, it is difficult to see how he can make it into the first XI. Dropping Griezmann, although not undeserved on form, seems an unlikely option for Deschamps, and playing both of them leaves the manager with familiar and unpalatable tradeoffs.
If Griezmann were to join Giroud in attack with Fékir slotting in behind them at the tip of a diamond, Mbappé and Dembélé would have to miss out. Pairing Mbappé and Griezmann up front would squeeze Giroud out. Although an enticing proposition theoretically, it is a scenario that never lasts long under Deschamps. Giroud’s ability to act as a focal point and bring others into play – not to mention his record of 31 goals in 77 games for France – makes him difficult to drop.
A 4-4-2 with Mbappé and Fékir in wider roles would leave France exposed in both full-back and central midfield areas, despite the mobility and ferocity of Kanté and Nzonzi. That system would also mean that Mbappé, naturally a central striker, and Fékir would both be playing out of position. To his credit, Deschamps seems to have resisted the temptation to cram his best 11 players into a unwieldy team. Yet, leaving Griezmann, Pogba and Mbappé (arguably France’s three best players) all out at once may be a step too far for Deschamps.
It seems he will continue to experiment into the round of 16, like he did two years ago. Deschamps has been in charge for six years but his team still lacks an identity, the style of play floating somewhere between vague and non-existent – other than the reliance on a long list of gifted individuals. Deschamps’ on-the-fly management may eventually produce acceptable results in tournament, but this generation should really win a trophy soon.
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Repeatedly muddling through with a last-minute, scattergun approach to team selection is not the best way to be successful but, unfortunately for this squad’s development, it might be enough for Deschamps to remain in charge after the tournament. Fékir may be shoehorned into the team and he might provide the spark to propel France into the last four, which would meet expectations. But, if France are to realise their potential, they will need a philosophy, a clear direction and a manager other than Didier Deschamps.
The Guardian Sport
