Generally, going into a tournament as the defending champions is a good thing, but that is perhaps not the case in the FIFA Men’s World Cup. In each of the last three editions, the holders have been knocked out in the group stage, and France themselves suffered this fate the last time they were in […]
In a dress rehearsal for matchday two in Group D at the Qatar 2022 World Cup, Denmark and France clashed to settle matters in a different international competition. The impressive 2-0 scoreline wasn’t enough to send Denmark to the Nations League finals, but it will give them great confidence ahead of the main event in […]
The final international break before the World Cup will see European sides finish the group stage of their Nations League campaigns. Of course, the rewards within the competition are at stake, but in a wider context, teams and players that are set to travel to Qatar in November will be quite keen to take this […]
In a replay of the 2018 World Cup final, Group 1’s bottom two outfits sought to recapture the indomitability that defined their success. In the end, the toughness of the Croatians triumphed. Sitting in a deep block, they frustrated the hosts and ended their Nations League title defense. Tactical analysis and match report by Emmanuel […]
An unpredictable EURO 2020 needed a truly unpredictable moment to make its mark. It arrived last night, and the football world stood stunned. The variance of international tournaments makes upsets very likely, but few predicted that it would be France who fell victim to fate. And few would have predicted it should come in such […]
Portugal’s 4-3-3 system looked a bit more fluid with the ball than previously in the tournament, but still created almost nothing from open play. Meanwhile France’s reversion to a 4-2-3-1 system saw them, as ever, highly reliant on their individual talents to earn a point in this match. Tactical analysis and match report by Josh […]
France came into this game looking to book their place in the Round of 16 with a win. But Hungary had other ideas. Sitting in a 5-3-2 block, they shackled the favorites, holding out against waves of pressure to clinch a superb result. Tactical analysis and match report by Emmanuel Adeyemi-Abere. Hungary are the rank […]
The Germans suffered the trademark defense plus counterattacking strategy of Deschamps’ France. Looking at shot count and expected goals might wrongly show Germany as the dominant side, as these numbers were just a result of the game state. After France’s 20th-minute goal, Les Bleus mostly sat back and let the Germans come to them. The […]
The rematch of the 2016 European Championship final saw the same scoreline but in the other direction, as France rolled to victory on the back of a fluid and composed performance. N’Golo Kanté’s 53rd minute strike proved the difference in a game when both teams had chances, although France were the better side – both […]
With both teams flawless in the Nations League thus far, this clash was a matchup between two of the contenders to take the competition altogether. However, while both teams traded blows, neither side’s offensive structure was able to make the breakthrough. Tactical analysis by Emmanuel Adeyemi-Abere. France have begun their Nations League campaign on a […]