France NT News, Formations & Results

I have a few problems with this:

Lacazette not being there obviously
If you're saying that you need a "Giroud" profile, Anthony Modeste has been far better this season
Bakayoko and Nzonzi are better than Tolisso at this point although I like him too

Giroud needs to be dropped. Rami in there makes my eyes hurt... but I guess Varane is injured and DD wanted a player that had a certain level of experience.

Tolisso can play behind the striker and brings the "goal scoring midfielder" profile to the team.

It's Matuidi who should be dropped in favor of N'zonzi imo.

So Pogba out due injury... N'Zonzi or Bakayoko?

Coquelin imo.

sportsczy wrote:So Pogba out due injury... N'Zonzi or Bakayoko?

Nobody i guess.
DD took Tolisso as the 24th man because Pogba is suspended vs Luxembourg.

Yeah but you need a backup to Kante.  I don't think Tolisso is that guy. Rabiot maybe could... but i wouldn't want him to.

Just a question, as I haven't been able to watch much of the French NT since the Euros:

Is Deschamps still going with a 4-3-3, and if so, how is Kante being used?

Is he typically the deepest midfielder, or playing further forward as a more advanced destroyer, a la Matuidi (granted, that's a gross over-simplification of Matuidi's role)?

442. Griezmann playing behind Giroud or Gameiro. Payet and Sissoko wide... but with Sissoko out, I assume Rabiot will be the wide right. Maybe even a winger in Dembele or Mbappe depending on how attacking he wants to be (Sissoko was in competition with Coman before which is why i mention this).

Kante will drop into Pogba's place next to Matuidi.

If Pogba was healthy I think he would be played as a right side B2B.

My guess with the back 4 are Mendy, Koscielny, Umtiti and Sidibe.

Lloris in goal.

Bakayoko replaces Jogba

the depth in this French NT is astounding. Mad jelly tbh. Wish England were spoilt for choice like this.

France U25 starting XI

Areola
Sidibe - Varane - Imtiti - Mendy/Kurzawa
Rabiot - Pogba - Bakayoko (Kante is 25)
Dembele - Martial - M'Bappe (Lemar, Coman, etc.) (Lacazette is 25)

U25 lol?

RealGunner wrote:U25 lol?

I'm bored

Great team ffs, only weak link is Deschamps (...and LB but that's besides my agenda).

Midfield is quite weak. But that's more to do with form.

Great to see Thauvin there.

Lucas Hernandez and Sidibe play on the left Urbie... Hernandez is going to play there full time now that Felipe Luiz is down for Atleti.

Sidibe played on the left at Lille and both with Monaco. I don't think he's better at either tbh.

Pavard is the one I really like on the right. He's killing it in Bundi.

Léo Dubois looks promising too, he'll join us in the summer.

We have *bleep* Mourinho-lite as our NT manager... I really don't like him.

Problem is that there worse in France... and knowing the FFF, we'll end up with some shit coach if he's canned.

Will sound biased but why is Koscielny not starting anymore? That backline needs more international experience.

they dont have the mentality to win the world cup yet, weaklings

It's friendly... France always always always sucks in friendlies. Can't be bothered with them. We always go 30 mins and then just take it easy. We don't tackle at all in these games.

Last 30 mins of these things are a complete waste as you get 5-7 changes in personnel.

Only games where we actually try hard in friendlies are against our rivals such as Germany, Italy, England, etc. There's that whole bragging rights thing.

I just hate that Deschamps has them sit back as soon as they get a lead. It's disgusting.

The most interesting part of DD's interview was the fact... he mentioned Mbappe as serious competition for Giroud and he didn't need Lacazette because he considered Mbappe a CF.

I think the 442 was better for Griezmann because of Giroud's presence.  BUT, if you swap Mbappe for Giroud and put Lemar (for example) on the other side, it gets very interesting. Griezmann's looked REALLY comfortable as more of a playmaker in a 443 in the friendly against Russia recently. Just really has a knack for moving the ball and then making a great run.

Mbappe was at his beast last season at CF or in Griezmann's role.  He's obviously not going to play as the second striker with Grizzy there... but CF?  If he does that, I have my faith restored in DD.

Mbappe was a great as part of a 2 man attack, not playing as a lone forward. When played in that position for PSG he underperformed, specially late in the season. So no i would say that playing him as lone CF carries a great deal of risk

That's not true Nick...  he went crazy when Falcao was out injured last season (that's when he got his chance and went on fire).  He kept it going when Falcao came back...  but playing a similar role than Griezmann does (use Falcao as a focal point and release).

The big loser was Valere Germain in the whole thing as he started the season on fire too as a regular (ended up with 17 goals all comps)... but was relegated mostly to the bench once Falcao came back as Mbappe was unbenchable.

That's what happened.

Tbf almost any striker would be the same, it's just easier to play with a partner than it is by yourself.

Can't think of many who struggle with a strike partner but excel by themselves.