France-Chile: the favorites and favorites of our special correspondent

Special envoy to Marseille

crushs

He is at the bottom of the hole at PSG and it hasn't really been better in the French team since the final lost against Argentina in December 2022... Tuesday evening, the Parisian, mobile, incisive and decisive (1 goal, 1 assist) signed his best performance of the season. On his right side, he showed his speed and his percussion. Is his season finally underway? To be confirmed at the club. Only problem, in this sector of selection play, Didier Deschamps already has some good people on hand (Dembélé, Coman)...

If the spectacle at the Vélodrome was not there, despite five goals on the scoreboard, we must salute the warmth and the songs of the Chilean supporters on Tuesday evening. In an enclosure hostile to its captain, the South American fans fulfilled their role, behind their team from start to finish. Fortunately they were there to make a little noise in Marseille. It started at the start of the day in the streets of Marseille, up to the outskirts of the “Vel” before the match. Confirmation that football in South America remains more than ever a religion.

SEE ALSO – Kolo Muani after France-Chile (3-2): “We had a very good reaction by scoring quickly”

The claw marks

We did not have to wait for the Madrilenian's absence to realize his weight and influence in the French team. Against Chile, as against Germany, the France team did not show in its collective expression. It was sluggish and the Blues' play relied on individual inspirations, like Kolo Muani, Hernandez or even Fofana... This is largely insufficient for a contender for the Euro title. We will have to offer a lot more things in June. The lesson from this March gathering is clear: provided that Antoine Griezmann does not get injured between now and the summer.

It was expected five days before the OM-PSG Classic and the Marseille public was there from this point of view. By whistling Mbappé from start to finish, but also the other Parisians, the Vélodrome supporters made no difference between the captain of the Blues and the star of the sworn enemy. Logical or not, this makes for a pathetic spectacle in the stands for a selection match.

With the Stade de France requisitioned for the Olympics, trips to the provinces were expected by the French team. So that the party is complete. Frankly, whether it was in Lyon on Saturday against Germany or in Marseille on Tuesday, it was disappointing. At the Vélodrome, the world vice-champions were not even full (barely 50,000 spectators out of 67,000 seats) and apart from the Chilean songs and the whistles against Mbappé, the cold froze everyone. We could almost count the days for the selection's return to Saint-Denis...