France's problem is not just Mbappe's nose

Coach Deschamps can't be happy

Captain Mbappe's injured nose after a collision with Danso was a "black spot" in the hard-fought victory over the indomitable Austrian team.

The collision that led to Mbappe's nose injury

Three points won from an own goal and then the team's biggest star suffers a terrible injury is no reason to celebrate.

Mbappe, with that injury, is at risk of missing the remaining two group stage matches, including the crucial match against the Netherlands, and may only return in the round of 16 with a mask on (if France qualify, of course). But even with the mask on, his ability to play is still a big question mark. Now is the time for coach Deschamps, after having won his 100th match in 154 times in charge of the Blues, to look for solutions for France without Mbappe, for at least the next two matches.

Trouble Comes to Mpabbe

Looking back at the win over Austria, it is clear that with Mbappe on the pitch, the French team still played a style of football that was not too bright. Mbappe was the main striker, the instigator of the attack, the main source of danger for all opponents and was truly considered the soul of the team. However, he was the one who missed an unbelievable chance when facing Austrian goalkeeper Pentz. In an attacking formation combined with Dembele and Thuram, he is still the biggest star. But now, if he cannot play in the next two matches, will the French team be in crisis? Coach Deschamps had experimented with a formation without Mbappe starting in a 4-2-3-1 formation in a friendly against Canada before EURO and the result was a disappointing 0-0 draw.

THE GREAT PRESSURE OF THE GIANTS

The 4-2-3-1 formation was also used in the match against Austria in the early morning of June 18 (Vietnam time), when Rabiot played alongside Kante in midfield, while Griezmann played as an attacking midfielder behind Mbappe. Mbappe only created 3 shots on target out of 14 shots for France and a lackluster performance. Nothing changed when Giroud and Muani came on at the end of the second half. Will this formation continue to be applied in the match against the Netherlands, with the same personnel, except Giroud replaced Mbappe? Or will France play with a 4-3-3 formation, adding Camavinga to the midfield, Griezmann pushed up higher with Thuram and Dembele in attack? Coach Deschamps must have a solution to the problem of not having Mbappe, and which formation, along with which personnel, need answers.

Looking at the overall picture of the hard-fought victory over Austria, we can see many other problems. Once Kante was voted by many newspapers as the best player of the match for the French team, we can completely understand what happened. He and Rabiot fought to dominate the midfield and tried to break the Austrians' will to fight. But to win and score, one must not only fight but also have creativity, speed, strength and innovation.

Griezmann, who is key to creating chances with his creativity and class, did not shine. Dembele also disappointed. Thuram did not show what he did last season with Inter, except for playing a lot for his teammates. But it is a pity that his link-up with Mbappe did not produce goals.

The pressure on Deschamps and his team is not small. France is one of the biggest candidates for the EURO 2024 championship. But France has not yet made the fans at the Merkur Spiel-Arena happy. Many complaints have also been "sounded" in the French press. This is understandable, but France has not always had a perfect start in the major tournaments they have participated in. Except for the 3-0 win over Denmark on the opening day of EURO 2000, France drew 2 matches 1-1, 0-0 and won the first 3 matches in the EURO groups, but never by more than 1 goal.

The question now is how to win the upcoming games without Mbappe, and rebuild the system so that others can score.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/van-de-cua-phap-khong-chi-la-cai-mui-cua-mbappe-185240618214740962.htm