A new France enters the scene at the Euro, one ravaged by injuries and setbacks. The infirmary of Deschamps has been filled. There are so many players between cottons that Deschamps will have to change his plans and drawing. Dembélé, the worst stopped, has already left the tournament. The rest have the defense and the second unit in suspense. They are not one hundred percent Koundé, Digne, Thuram, Lemar and Rabiot, although the latter must force to play as a left-handed winger. France will move to a scheme with three centrals, with Lenglet libero.
Deschamps' problem lies in finding a response to injuries and in get more out of Mbappé. Criticism towards the player of the PSG they have found reinforcement in the statistics: he has not yet scored or assisted. What he has done the most value so far was to force a dubious penalty against Portugal that got the French out of a bind. Benzema managed to take off the scoring pressure against the Portuguese, Griezmann I had already done it before. But Mbappé needs to join the party. It must be today (follow the game live on As.com).
The French will find a tough bone in Switzerland, the 13th team in the world rankings. Those of Petkovic have improved a lot compared to that team that lost a defeat (5-2) against France in the group stage of the 2014 World Cup. Since then they have not stopped growing, as was seen in the draw (0-0) that the Gauls scratched in the Euro two years later, in 2016. These two teams are neighbors and old acquaintances.
The powerful Embolo, the unpredictable Seferovic and the charismatic Xhaka and Shaqiri will put the weakened French defense to the test. But to be a champion as the French want, you have to overcome obstacles like these. Those derived from injuries typical of a short tournament. That is why France must be more France than ever. And that happens to recover Mbappé as soon as possible …