World: for the Blues, a momentum to keep and a table to clarify

"Having that peace of mind (...) leaves a little more room. But in no way should this third game be overused. The dynamic is important internally," said coach Didier Deschamps, who remained very secret about the extent of its rotation.

Changes, "there will be" after the two convincing victories against Australia (4-1) and Denmark (2-1). "How much? You won't know and the opponent especially won't know," he slipped on Tuesday before training behind closed doors without definitive teaching.

The vagueness remains even on the identity of the titular goalkeeper, a post where Deschamps does not usually maintain any mystery. It will therefore be played between captain Hugo Lloris who, with a 142nd selection, would share the national record of Lilian Thuram, and veteran Steve Mandanda who, at 37 years and eight months, would become the oldest player in the history of the Blues. .

Without the pressure of the result, the richness of the workforce allows the world champions to rest certain executives and to leave the bench of other players who are stamping with impatience.

- Entry Mbappé -

On the other side of the field, the pressure is maximum on the Carthage Eagles before entering the Education City stadium, in the west of Doha.

The only point taken in two matches by the partners of Montassar Talbi forced them to create the feat to have a chance of reaching the eighth, hoping for a faux pas from Australia against Denmark at the same time.

"We have a golden opportunity to redeem ourselves, to achieve something big," said the Lorient defender, referring to the frustrating defeat against the Australians (1-0).

For midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni, Tunisia can rely on "talented players who are technical, capable of putting a lot of intensity into their match. They will give everything with the support of their supporters", many of whom are in Qatar.

The Blues have much less but they have Mbappé, three goals in two matches, driven by the quest for the tournament's top scorer trophy.

Will he be lined up on Wednesday? The question can extend to the other titular attackers, from Ousmane Dembélé to Olivier Giroud via Antoine Griezmann, installed as a distant leader in the midfield since the start of the World Cup.

- L'Argentine tremble - 

In defense, the threat of suspension hovering over Jules Koundé, warned against Denmark, pleads for a resting of the Barcelonan in favor of Benjamin Pavard. After two starts, Dayot Upamecano could give way to one of the many central defenders in the squad, such as Ibrahima Konaté or William Saliba.

The management will also have to make a choice for Raphaël Varane, who returned to competition only on Saturday after five weeks in the infirmary. The Manchester United defender, still looking for rhythm, said he was ready to continue.

Beyond individual cases, the Blues want above all to prepare as well as possible for the "second tournament" which awaits them from the eighth, with a known opponent at the end of the evening. He will be among the players from Poland-Argentina and Saudi Arabia-Mexico (8:00 p.m.).

The possible reunion with Messi's Albiceleste, as in 2018, a reference match of the Russian World Cup (4-3), makes the football planet salivate. But the South Americans must beat Robert Lewandowski and his gang to be sure of staying alive.

The initial 2-1 defeat against Saudi Arabia by Hervé Renard weighed on the Argentinians and the specter of a nightmare elimination still haunts everyone's mind, despite the successful rebound against Mexico (2-0).

The French say they are waiting for their opponent without planning. "The round of 16 is where there are the best teams in the World Cup. You have no right to hide," summarizes Tchouaméni.