World Cup 2014: Deschampsai??i?? Selection Policy Paying Huge Dividends For France

By Aditya Balaram
10 years Ago

After an abysmal showing in South Africa four years ago, the French have grown remarkably over the past four years. The tension in the dressing room is long gone and a sense of unity has glued the current unit together. Didier Deschampsai??i?? preference for cohesion over individual quality has given the French side a new impetus in their World Cup 2014 campaign.

When Samir Nasri was left out of the French side travelling to Brazil, there was an undoubted void in terms of quality. The mercurial Frenchmanai??i??s abilities are unquestionable, but his attitude was something Deschamps was keen on keeping away from the rest of his side.

Lightning struck a week before the start of the tournament as Franceai??i??s most potent threat, Franck Ribery, was ruled out of the World Cup due to injury. Losing your biggest star, especially following an unfruitful six years, was a blow that was going to be hard to overcome. So large a loss was this that many believed it was imperative to bring in the moody Nasri.

Deschamps was faced with the same quality over unity debate but remained immutable. Montpellierai??i??s Remy Cabella, an uncapped player at the senior level, was called up to replace the talismanic Bayern Munich star — a clear sign that Deschamps valued team morale more than anything.

Riberyai??i??s absence and the inexperience of most of the other replacement options left the French head coach in a predicament ai??i?? stick to his tried and trusted 4-3-3 for which the main cog wasnai??i??t available or change things around to use players in positions of comfort? While most would have gone with the latter, Deschamps chose to keep going with the style that a majority of the side had grown used to.

His choice has paid good dividends. In the trying conditions of Brazil, France has been the only European side that has clearly outdone opponents in the first two group stage games. Although Les Blues do have one of the easier groups in the tournament, going past a highly ranked Swiss side and the well acclimatized Ecuadorians and Hondurans was never going to be an easy task, especially for a side that has become synonymous with self destruction in the recent past.

By sticking to the 4-3-3, Deschamps has ensured that Franceai??i??s main strength isnai??i??t sacrificed ai??i?? a technically sound and immensely efficient midfield unit. Blaise Matiuidi, Yohan Cabaye and Paul Pogba/Moussa Sissoko form one of the most hardworking midfield units at the World Cup. All of them are known to be defensively sound, and their exploits against the Swiss are testament to the threat they provide when going forward.

With all of the French midfielders being so proficient at scoring and destroying opposition plays, there is a constant rotation of roles over the course of the game. Cabaye still hasnai??i??t showcased his abilities to the fullest, but Matiuidiai??i??s performances have more than made up for this. Sissoko has complemented the other two fairly well, even managing to open his goals account for France. To top this off, Deschamps has Pogba to come off the bench run his socks off and provide a physical presence exceeding that which the other three bring to the field.

The likes of Spain, Italy and Germany boast of far more talented midfielders than France, but it has been the Les Blues midfield that has taken to the Brazil weather best. This has probably been the biggest factor that has worked in Franceai??i??s favor, allowing them to walk past a high quality Swiss midfield and a tenacious Honduras unit.

This dogfighting midfield unit has also lessened the defensive pressures on the three forwards. Deschampsai??i?? decision to deploy two strikers in the front three has also worked wonders. Olivier Giroudai??i??s usage through the middle in a pivot role has given Karim Benzema, who has been used out wide, more time on the ball and far more opportunities to run at defenders in and around the box. Both these players have been used differently for their clubs and have not produced results in the manner that they are for the French at the World Cup.

Giroudai??i??s flick-ons and link up play in slightly deeper positions have been wasteful for Arsenal as he has been used as the frontman of an attack that doesnai??i??t have a natural goalscorer. For France, Giroud has been able to use these same abilities to the fullest, allowing Benzema to foray into the box. Benzema, who is more or less second fiddle in a star studded Real Madrid attack, has become Franceai??i??s biggest goalscoring weapon down the left flank. He gets more to run head on at defenders rather than play a somewhat Giroud-esque role for Madrid.

Mathieu Valbuena, Franceai??i??s third attacker, continues to man the right flank where he has done ever so well over the past few years. Since Valbuena isnai??i??t an inverted winger, France end up having a skewed formation, making defending much harder for opponents. While one flank is focused on Benzema cutting into the box and linking up with Giroud, Valbuena favors either drifting into the center from deep or crossing into the area like a traditional winger. The latter tactic allows for the use of Giroudai??i??s phenomenal aerial prowess.

Raphael Varaneai??i??s return to fitness and form has been welcomed as he has been the epitome of calmness in the French defense. Deschampsai??i?? faith in the youngster has rewarded as Varane has become the backbone of what may otherwise have seemed a shaky defense. Mamadou Sakho seems to work well with Varane and has solved the center back conundrum that troubled Deschamps prior to the tournament.

Not many had touted France to do well this World Cup, and while we may still be in the early stages of the tournament, Les Blues have been the only team to really start the tournament in style. The weather hasnai??i??t deterred them, injuries havenai??i??t stopped them, nor has the cynicism of fans of the sport affected them. Theyai??i??ve gone about their first two games in style, enjoying themselves on the field, looking most unlike the side of 2008, 2010 or the playoff against Ukraine.

France may not go on to win the tournament but this is a side that will make serious inroads. A fairly simple semifinal should be on the cards, thus postponing their first genuine ai???big gameai??? of the World Cup. But if any side is capable of knocking the other big guns off their perch with aplomb, it is the French, and this has been possibly mainly because of Deschampsai??i?? selection and tactics.

Categories: Features, World Cup 2014
Tags: Deschamps France World Cup 2014

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