In theory, the least important match of pool play. Get a result, points in the bank. Lose and it's not the end of the world (just no safety margin left). Anyway, good luck to the boys today. That backline is slow. Very slow. Kids are fast. Not sure I'd bring a slow backline to a youth tournament, but I'm not a soccer genius.
France lineup Goalkeeper: Restes - 19 year old who played every minute for Toulouse this season. I believe he's been recruited by The Ivory Coast National Team. Left Back: Truffert - 22 year old who was born in Belgium but grew up in France. He did sit a few games late in the season, but he's mostly been a starter for Rennes since 2020. He also has 1 cap for the senior team which came in a 2022 Nations League game LCB: Bade - One of Frances overage players but still fairly young at 24. Got his professional feet wet with Rennes but had his career unravel a bit when he had a really ill-advised loan move to Nottingham Forrest in 2023 where he did not play single match for the team in 6 months. A mistake an American would never make. He's found a home with Sevilla in La Liga though and was a starter for them all season outside of a month he missed in December with an injury RCB: Lukeba - Really talented 21 year old CB who spent 2 seasons starting for Lyon before moving to RB Leipzig this past season. He has one cap for the senior team which was a brief cameo against Scotland last Fall. Right Back: Sildillia - Born in France grew up in Germany, he's 22 and has started the last 2 seasons for Freiburg in The Bundesliga Defensive Mid: Chotard - Only 22, but has over 10,000 Ligue 1 minutes for Montpellier since 2019. LCM: Millot - 22 year old who's been starting for Stuttgart in The Bundesliga for the past 2 seasons. RCM: Kone - 23 year old Gladbach man. Did miss 11 games for Gladbach this year between injuries and suspension but always started otherwise Right Wing: Olise - Quad-National who was born and raised in England but has a French-Algerian Mom and a Nigerian Dad. England is still hopeful he'll end up with them before it's all said and done. He had 2 really unfortunate injuries this year that cost him a combined 5 months of the season but he was fantastic for Crystal Palace when he played and just became Bayern Munich's 4th most expensive signing ever about 3 weeks ago Left Wing: - Lacazette - 33 year old overage player who played over 160 matches for Arsenal before returning to his boyhood club, Lyon 2 seasons ago. He's been a top 3 scorer in Ligue 1 the past 2 seasons Forward - Mateta - Another overage player on their top line who's 27 and has been at Crystal Palace since 2021. He had a really nice 16 goal season
Once Mihailovic was named, this seemed like the formation/lineup. Not many surprises to me. Basically, what we did in our last friendly against France.
I'd accept a draw right now. This is going to be a tough one. We knew it was when the draw was announced. We do have experienced players in the spine of this team in the midfield and center of defense. I like that in this atmosphere.
Does not look like they optimized for a main fan section. Obviously a very pro France crowd at home but it’s not loud or coordinated, unlike the euros.
I honestly had no idea Olise was French. I've heard him speak, he's about as London as it comes. EDIT: reading his bio now, he is as London as it comes.
Team looks pretty good so far. Not a lot of attacking threat, but you wouldn't expect that 15 minutes into a tournament.
I'm waiting for the French to go through the gears, but they haven't seen a lot of the ball. When they do have the ball they can't find a lot of space to play through. A OK so far.