France surprised: they couldn’t score against Canada! Not even Mbappé’s departure helped
Anatoly Romanov June 10, 2024, 00:35 Moscow time Audio version: Your browser does not support the audio element.
Kylian missed the last scoring opportunity of the game.
France failed to beat Canada at home before Euro 2024. Didier Deschamps’ team did not even score.
Kylian Mbappé this time did not enter the starting eleven of the French team. They decided to save him due to back or knee problems. The damage turned out to be so slight that the newcomer from Real Madrid was included in the squad for sparring with Canada, but even so, on the bench the risk of aggravating the injury was lower than on the field.
Otherwise, the composition of the French team in the last match before Euro 2024 was as optimal as possible. The Bordeaux fans created a good atmosphere for the official match, with a full house and the necessary noise, so the local players were motivated to win. The French started with strong pressure, however, the first opportunity they could only organize in the eighth minute, when Dembélé, who was actively dribbling (11 dribble attempts before the break, six successful), decided to step up with a pass and brought Kante. one by one. N’Golo shot like a footballer accustomed to destroying instead of creating, straight into the chest of Canadian goalkeeper Crepeau.
In French attacks, Griezmann moved to the right towards Dembélé, sometimes the two changed places. From the right wing, the Atlético striker created the most dangerous moment for the French team in 45 minutes: Crepeau’s save and the crossbar saved Canada from Thuram’s goal. Deschamps’ team was very solid at times. But then he took a break, as if he wanted to practice positional defense in sparring.
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If France is preparing for Euro 2024, the Canadian team will soon start the Copa América. Jesse Marsh’s team, when having rare positional attacks, usually left three defenders behind and Davis advanced. At times, thanks to the Bayern player, the Canadians clung to the opposing third, Alfonso tried to dribble and even carried the ball between the lines. However, the visitors managed to break through Maignan’s goal for the first time only after half an hour of play. And the Canadians didn’t make a single hit in the first half.
In the first minutes of the second half, the French team got carried away with the attack and the Copa América participant made a strong counterattack. The Canadians came out through Lille’s French forward David, who found free space in the home team’s support zone, and it all ended with Millar charging from outside the area. Kunde did not block the shot: the ball rattled the crossbar. He didn’t hit the target either, but how dangerous!
However, this was only one episode and, overall, the French team’s lead after the break remained notable. Deschamps’ team increased its speed: the Canadians found it more difficult to defend themselves. Giroud had chances. But, in the end, Olivier left the field after an hour of play with modest statistics for a center forward: he only made one shot (blocked) and did not make any passes.
Midway through the half, the French team suddenly sank again and Deschamps finally brought on Mbappé as a substitute. Kilian was prepared to run for 20 minutes. The forward immediately took the captain’s armband, but did not change the course of the match. The Canadian team felt that the French were deflated. Maybe because of the stress prior to Euro 2024? One way or another, the Canadians were no longer inferior to the “tricolors” and again created a scoring opportunity. Saliba took the ball off the foot of Osorio, who would have scored into an empty goal.
The French team had its last chance to win in added time. Mbappé got in position to shoot seconds before the final whistle, but Portland goalkeeper Crepeau made another save. In the end, the statistics of shots on goal were surprising for a game like this: 4-0 in favor of the home team. There were more chances than shots on goal. Mbappé finished the game against Canada with nine touches, two dribbles and two shots.
