I don’t know who’s supposed to be playing right back for the French but then I don’t think the French know either.
That pass out to the left corner has been there whenever they want it all half long. The French need to make a significant tactical change but Deschamps is not that guy.
That was like a training drill. Absolutely perfect against no opposition.
French completely outclassed today. And it’s not even just that Argentina are good (and they’re really good - this is probably the best we’ve seen them in the WC); but the French are also really, really bad. Their passes just aren’t connecting, and they’ve basically not shown up for the game.
Well. I think any questions on DiMaria’s health and match fitness for this have been answered. He’s been the threat all day for La Albiceleste.
ITV booth putting some of that on the virus that apparently has been sweeping through the French training room. And I mean… maybe? But some of this isn’t sluggishness. Some of it looks like players who have lost the team instruction and are just kind of freelancing out there.
Wow. Dembele and Giroud out.
Giroud and Dembele subbed off. Wow.
Like one of those FM22 matches where you see a player sitting at a 5.1 at 30 minutes in…
Makes sense in a way.
Don’t think it can get much worse for France :(.
Mbappe has been fairly anonymous vs England and Morocco but is going to get his chance now I guess. I presume he’s going to be tip of the spear for the rest of the game.
It’s Kounde, right? And it should be noted, I think in club football he’s considered a natural centre back. And versus DiMaria, I think we’re seeing why that is.
France missing N’Golo Kante. He pulled him hamstring before the tournament. When they won four years ago I recall how much the players sang his name in celebration.
Argentina masters of diving.
Tactically, disrupts the opposing momentum.
Messi and DiMaria are on fire today. Two players who know the stakes (their last chance of “real” immortality in Argentina) and are here for it.
It’s a pity (for us neutrals) that the French are so out of it.
A healthy, fit, and maybe younger Kante can boss a game from the midfield like few others in memory. Leicester City’s miraculous title run years back felt like something you could lay a huge amount of credit to Kante on.
Yeah, he’s listed there today. I don’t know if they’re shifting to a back three in possession and he’s just not getting back wider when they lose the ball, but for the first 30 minutes that area in the final third was Di Maria vs thin air.
Argentina came out inspired. France came out entitled and getting the twatting they deserve.
