When Will France’s Million Dollar Babies Turn Up at FIFA World Cup?
With the exception of N’golo Kante (not in pic), and perhaps a few flashes from Kylian Mbappe (left), France treated Australia in their FIFA World Cup opener with arrogance and almost lost the plot (pic credit: IANS).
Didier Deschamps spent a fair amount of time in the press conference room after his side’s opening win at the FIFA World Cup over Australia on June 16. “I do not want to give explanations,” he said. “Because that will sound like I am making excuses,” he said.
The entire tone, of both questioning and Deschamps’ responses of the engagement was almost as though he, and not Bert van Marwijk, were the losing coach on the day. Deschamps picked a squad of million dollar babies and the young ’uns, for the most part, just didn’t turn up.
Summer seems to have arrived in Russia. At this time of the year much of the country comes alive. In Kazan weather conditions are close to perfect — 20 degrees with low humidity and bright sunshine. Perfect weather, that is, for the kind of Saturday afternoon kickabout we were forced to endure — France’s opener against the Aussies.
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According to Deschamps, France were poor in transition, didn’t attack with pace or intent and the players were not yet accustomed to playing together in the fluid 4-3-3 model that he has so elegantly created. “It was the first game of the World Cup,” he explained. “It is difficult and it is complicated.”
And yet the difficulty, or complexity, of the situation was not immediately apparent. Why an extremely talented selection of young players — used to playing at some of the biggest football clubs in the world — felt it necessary to treat the opening match of their World Cup like a lazy Sunday chore, is hard to figure out.
Antoine Greizmann, scorer of France’s first goal, and declared man of the match, followed Deschamps out. Looking as though he had been woken up from a nap, the forward mouthed a couple of platitudes and made a hasty exit. “It was out first game together,” he said in reference to France’s front three. “It will take a little time, training together and playing together, to get used to it.”
The message seemed clear — Australia was a warm-up game!
With the notable exception of the always-on N’golo Kante, and perhaps a few flashes of speed and skill from Luis Hernandez and Kylian Mbappe, France treated Australia with a degree of arrogance that warranted a bit of old boarding-school style punishment. It took the introduction of the level-headed Olivier Giroud to get the attacking elements of the team working more effectively as a unit instead of relying on moments of individual brilliance.
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Paul Pogba, in particular, was disappointing. Cristiano Ronaldo, the previous day, displayed a little bit extra even though he had the season stretch all the way to the UEFA Champions League final. He seemed ready. Lionel Messi, later in the day, displayed desire bordering on desperation. It didn’t work out on the day for Messi, but you can tell how much he wants it. Given his unparalleled quality it is only a matter of time before it does.
With Pogba the situation is very different. He possesses undeniable prowess and has the potential to be one of the most dominant midfield players of his generation. He has had plenty of opportunity and experience and now it is time to settle down and play the sort of leadership role that pulls this squad together.
For once, France’s problems seem to be not in the dressing room or the boudoir, or even TV talk shows, but in the centre of the pitch. Pogba displayed about as much clarity of purpose and situational awareness as the Delhi Police does gender sensitivity.
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If Pogba is not up for the challenge France will probably not get past the first knockout stage. They are in a relatively easy group and should top the first phase. Which would mean, most likely at this stage, facing Argentina.
The way France line up, it is almost inevitable they will afford opposition a chance or two. Defending set pieces is always difficult in modern football. Teams put in a tremendous amount of work focussed on exploiting these situations. Australia showed a good understanding of French fragility, or at least lack of composure, when defending in a crowded box. The combination of a lack of creativity with a vulnerable defence is not a pleasant prospect.
“It is not about the age of my players,” Deschamps said categorically. I am inclined to agree. It is about their attitudes.
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