France-Germany: The favorites and favorites of our special correspondent

Special correspondent to Décines

Crushs

The jewel of Wirtz, the German mischief Kick-off at Groupama Stadium. Germany opens the debates. In the central circle, Toni Kroos recovers the ball, turns around, pretending to start a backwards pass, before finally finding Florian Wirtz located 40 meters from the French goal. Incredibly alone, the new jewel of German football projects himself and takes advantage of French apathy to shoot Brice Samba, despite a slightly deflected strike by Dayot Upamecano. String and goal. Sumptuous. For a combination that air-conditions the Groupama Stadium... after seven seconds of play.

The blue jersey, a marvel The best part of the French team’s evening remains the discovery of the new jersey. This shows the overall performance of the selection... If on the field, Didier Deschamps' men were never there, their new tunic was all the rage. A blue that recalls the heroes of 1984 and Michel Platini, but also the 1970s. In this regard, it’s a real success. A wonder.

SEE ALSO - Blues: “We had a hard time getting into it”, Adrien Rabiot's reaction after the defeat against Germany (0-2)

The claw marks

The French shipwreck Where did the French team go on Saturday evening? Since the World Cup final against Argentina in December 2022 and the cataclysmic first 70 minutes of play, the Blues have not offered such a sad spectacle. Overtaken, asphyxiated and beaten by the Germans who were much better placed, the vice-world champions showed nothing on Saturday evening.

Surprised at the start of each period, the French lacked everything. Ideas, enthusiasm, passing circuit, precision and a game plan in the absence of Antoine Griezmann. Apart from giving the ball to Dembélé and Mbappé on the side and waiting for a flash, the collective ambition was poor. Unworthy of a nation which dreams of winning the Euro in three months.

Thuram alias Fantômas He had a unique chance to make an impression and especially points in the battle he is waging with Giroud and Kolo Muani for the position of number 9 of the Blues. The Milanese failed to seize the opportunity. Alone at the forefront, he wandered for sixty minutes without ever being able to show himself in his best light. Never found or not found, of little value as a support point and borrowed in his travels, the former Guingampais (17 caps, 2 goals), who prefers to play in a two-man attack, suffered and will not keep any good memories of this evening . “He would have let go a little more and participated in the movements,” breathes Deschamps, who knows the difficulty of existing in his thankless role.

A Groupama Stadium in cemetery mode An audience that whistles its players at almost every change, a bronca at the end of the match, spectators who leave the enclosure in the 80th minute... It's been a long time since the French team has disappointed as much his fans as after the wreck on Saturday evening. If the pre-match was exciting on the stands side, with a Marseillaise that would give you chills, the rest was of poor quality. Like the production of the Blues on the pitch.