France, current world champion and already qualified for the round of 16, will close the first phase of Qatar-2022 this Wednesday (12:00) against Tunisia, which dreams of giving a historic hit to advance to the World Cup round.
Two games and two convincing victories (4-1 against Australia and 2-1 against Denmark) took the team from Didier Deschampswhich barring a catastrophe (defeat with Tunisia and oceanic rout) is also insured the leadership of group D.
The DT, however, reiterated that his team will go out to compete: “There is no need to throw away this third party (…) It is a World Cup match. It is not decisive, but it is important for me and for the players”.
Also read: Mbappé seals France’s qualification to the round of 16 in Qatar-2022
Everything is so clear for the ‘Bleus’ that the name that was heard the most at the press conference was that of Karim Benzemaafter there was speculation about the possibility of the Ballon d’Or returning to Qatar to play a game, which was left discarded with the appearance, this Tuesday, of the Real Madrid striker on the island of La Reunion to spend a vacation.
– Shifts back to front –
With the sorting in pocket and the possibility of facing Argentina’s Messi in eighths as in Russia-2018 (4-3 French victory), Deschamps will rest several of his starters, starting with the goal, where Steve Mandanda (37 years old) should occupy the place of captain Hugo Lloris as a reward for all the years of work as a ‘spectator’ of the Rennes goalkeeper.
In defence, Benjamin Pavard could regain ownership on the right side, since Jules Koundé saw a yellow card against Denmark and is threatened ‘in chapel’. On the other side, the surprise could be eduardo camavinga as a left back to rest Theo Hernández, the only specialist in that position after the serious injury of his brother Lucas.
It may interest you: Australia defeats Tunisia and takes oxygen in the World Cup in Qatar
In the center of defense Raphael Varane should continue adding game minutes after returning against Denmark after injury and his companion could be Ibrahima Konatewith which Dayot Upamecano would rest.
The rotations will also reach the midfield, where Aurélien Tchouameni and Adrien Rabiot should leave their post to Youssouf Fofana Y Matteo Guendouzi and he will only keep his position Antoine Griezmannbasic in the Deschamps scheme as a link between the forwards and the defensive block.
– Mbappé could rest –
The doubt in attack is in if Kylian Mbappé will start or it will be reserved. The PSG star is the tournament’s top scorer (along with Enner Valencia, with 3 goals) and against Tunisia he would have a great opportunity to continue increasing his tally, but there is also always the risk of injury.
For Tunisia the accounts are clear in pursuit of an eventual classification for eighths: victory against the ‘Bleus’ and hope that Australia does not beat DenmarkAlthough in this case it will be necessary to take into account the goal difference (-2 for the ‘Socceroos’ and -1 for the Africans and the Nordics) and the rest of the tie-breaking criteria, which could even be decided by the number of cards.
The North African representative will have the support of his fans, who are very numerous in Qatar, but he has a big handicap: the lack of goal. It is, next to Uruguay Y Mexico, of the only teams that they haven’t scored yet after the dispute of two rounds.
