France peaking perfectly ahead of WCup final
SHOULD France go on to win the World Cup on Sunday, it would have peaked perfectly after starting the tournament in Russia slowly but gaining momentum when it mattered the most.
Tournament experience has been key for both the players and coach Didier Deschamps, who has learnt lessons from the last World Cup in Brazil, where France lost to Germany in the quarterfinal, and the disappointment of missing out on home soil in the European Championship two years ago.
No more so than on Tuesday as it edged Belgium in the semifinal to put itself within one game of a second World Cup win, 20 years after its first.
While there were questions asked after a far-from-inspiring start, which included a controversial win over Australia and narrowly beating Peru, France still expectedly secured a knockout round spot early from a first-round group where it was the heavy favorite. It has looked better in each game since.
There were, however, no easy rides in the knockout stages where the French had to show their full capability in beating Argentina, Uruguay and then Belgium 1-0 in Tuesday’s semifinal in Saint Petersburg.
“We have prepared well, I can brag a little about that,” laughed Deschamps after securing a place in the final in Moscow against either Croatia or England.
“The older players all played their role as leaders and the youngsters brought their energy. I have a squad with a good blend. They have co-habited happily together.
“No one complains and they all realize the importance of the competition. When there was an opportunity to be seized, they took it.”
There have been many positive aspects to their game. A lack of panic when they were 1-2 down against Argentina in the last-16 before coming back to win a thriller 4-3, and patience in breaking down stubborn Uruguay in the quarterfinals.
Against Belgium on Tuesday, France was watchful and disciplined.
“We have to give a lot of credit to the way France defended, even having certain attacking players defending very deep and giving us a lot of respect in that way,” said opposing coach Roberto Martinez.
For France, losing in the 2016 European Championships final to Portugal in Paris has provided added motivation.
“It was very difficult to accept what happened two years ago, and we do not want it to happen again. We want to finish this tournament in the best possible way,” said captain Hugo Lloris after another series of heroic saves on Tuesday.
Deschamps, who captained France’s only World Cup winning side in 1998, said the march to Sunday’s final has been underpinned by a steely determination. “There is a spirit in the squad that can move mountains,” he said. “They are young and they will be even stronger in two and four years’ time.
“We’ve created an opportunity to become world champions but we are still not there. But we want to fulfill our destiny.”
In fact, France has a muchvaunted attack but it is its defense marshalled by Samuel Umtiti and Raphael Varane that is impressing at the World Cup — at both ends of the pitch.
Center-back Umtiti scored the only goal to condemn Belgium’s ‘golden generation’ to the thirdplace playoff in Russia.
For the third straight knockout match, France needed a gamechanging goal from a defender despite boasting a fearsome attacking pair of 19-year-old sensation Kylian Mbappe and Euro 2016 Golden Boot winner Antoine Griezmann.
Right-back Benjamin Pavard’s stunning long-range effort from left-back Lucas Hernandez’s cross levelled Les Bleus’ last-16 tie with Argentina at 2-2 after they fell behind and Mbappe did the rest in the 4-3 win.
Varane headed the opener in a 2-0 quarterfinal win against Uruguay as Luis Suarez was shut out.
And Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku could not break through in St Petersburg as France registered a fourth clean sheet in six World Cup games to reach the final.