Les Bleus prepare for their semi-final tie versus Spain, as they look to seek a solution to their misfiring forwards
Kylian Mbappe – France v Portgual – Euro 2024 – (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
France boast an array of world-class attacking talent spearheaded by Kylian Mbappe. Supported by the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Antoine Griezmann, Randal Kolo Muani, Marcus Thuram, Olivier Giroud, Kingsley Coman and Bradley Barcola who have all performed at the top level, one would expect France to be dominant in attack.
But so far during Euro 2024, this has not been the case. Whilst it must be noted that Didier Deschamps has always operated a defensive first structure, creating a solid system which then thrives upon individual quality in attack, one would expect Les Bleus to be putting other nations to the sword rather than scraping through in underwhelming fashion.
During the current campaign, France have mustered three goals from their five matches, two own goals and one penalty. Despite failing to score from open play, Deschamps’ side have made it to the semi-finals, but they can only remain impotent in attack for so long if they are to achieve their first European Championship success since Euro 2000.
This is in stark contrast to Les Bleus who scored a staggering 29 times in their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, even if this figure is inflated by a ruthless 14-0 demolition against Gibraltar, so what has gone wrong?
Current Set-Up
Deschamps has set-up his France side in the same way from qualifying to Euro 2024, in a fluid 4-3-3 formation. Typically, France look to push their full-backs on to provide attacking width and support to the wingers. This also enables the wingers to receive the freedom to come inside and play closer to the central striker and operate in the half spaces.
This is particularly prominent on the left-hand side of the pitch, with Theo Hernandez utilised as a constant attacking threat, giving Mbappe a free role to occupy different areas in attack.
On the opposite flank, the role of the right-back often changes. Throughout qualifying Jules Kounde would be used as a more defensive right back, and would allow for more of a 3-2-5 shape in build up.
When looking for more of an attacking spark, Deschamps would opt for Jonathan Clauss to bomb on forward.
Throughout Euro 2024, Kounde has been used exclusively at right-back but his role has changed throughout. Ousmane Dembele started at right-wing to begin with.
He would hug the touchline and look to receive the ball and create 1v1 situations versus the opposition full back. Kounde would typically be slightly more conservative, supporting behind Dembele or occasionally underlapping to try to create more space for the winger.
In the two knockout ties, Antoine Griezmann has started both fixtures at right-wing rather than the central midfield role he has usually operated for Deschamps. Griezmann looks to come into the right half-space to receive the ball and therefore Kounde will overlap and look to provide the attacking width instead.
Dembele’s man of the match performance versus Portugal may mean that Griezmann returns to midfield, after his substitution sparked a French attacking threat with Dembele’s directness a constant worry for the Portugal defence.
When Griezmann has been central he looks to push centrally around the striker and offer support in the half spaces which allows him to engage in intricate build up, or look to spread the ball in behind opposition defences. He acts as the link between midfield and attack, and without him there to do so the French attack was far more laboured against Portugal, lacking a directness and a tempo in their build up play – maybe a result of the lack of the creativity Grizemann provides centrally.
It should be noted that France have not struggled for attempts on goal, it is more the lack of quality of the chances created particularly in the knockout stages.
Against Portugal, Les Bleus had 20 total shots but only created an xG of 1.14, versus Belgium 19 total shots and yet only an xG of 1.06. Whilst an attack of France’s quality will be likely to muster individual brilliance, it can not be expected to be relied upon, and Deschamps’ side must look to create better opportunities.
Portugal and Belgium both operated very deep defensive lines, which helped to nullify France’s elite transition threat. Whilst Spain have operated higher up the pitch throughout the tournament, due to what is at stake it must be expected they will be more conservative to cover the space in behind. However, Les Bleus will be given opportunities to do so and must act ruthlessly.
Mbappe is given license to remain forward alongside his strike partner, and his blistering speed contributes to the elite transition threat, but France will need him to overcome the troubles of his broken nose which has visibly impacted the new Real Madrid stars’ performance.
France have also been guilty of poor finishing throughout the tournament, and you would expect a return to the mean at some point During the tournament France have registered an xG of 8.08 across their five matches, but only three goals. This suggests a dire underperformance and one you would typically expect to be rectified.
The Solution
Had France taken their chances, we may not be discussing this situation at all. It has become very common in international football to have defensive first structures given they favour knockout football and whilst France have not exactly played scintillating attacking football, they have created a vast number of openings throughout the tournament that they have failed to capitalise on.
They will also look to increase the quality of the chances they create, returning Griezmann to central midfield and restoring Dembele to right wing is likely to help with this, as Griezmann can provide more creativity in the middle of the pitch and Dembele’s direct dribbling causes constant issues against opposition defences.
The xG also supports this change, with France recording their highest xG performances with Dembele wide and Griezmann central. Doing this, alongside an eventual return to the mean will cause Les Bleus’ attack to rediscover its footing.
If France can score an early goal then it would be expected that they would put Spain to the sword given more transition opportunities would likely arise.
All that is needed is a moment. The French attackers must not waiver their belief, and one instance of individual brilliance might be all it takes to reignite one of international football’s most exuberant attacks.