UEFA Euro 2024: France can lean on their robust protection vs. Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal as assault stumbles

France are into the UEFA Euro 2024 quarterfinals and can face Portugal within the final eight on Friday in Hamburg, forward of a possible semifinal assembly with Spain or hosts Germany in Stuttgart. Les Bleus have been removed from spectacular going ahead with simply three targets all match and two of these not even scored by members of head coach Didier Deschamps’ squad. But the French have conceded only one aim this summer time — Robert Lewandowski’s retaken penalty vs. Poland — which is one thing that solely La Roja can equal up to now.

It has not been champagne soccer by any stretch of the creativeness however tournament-winning runs not often characteristic a lot of that as results-based teaching dominates. Few are higher at that than France’s former World Cup and Euro-winning captain, Deschamps, who’s trying so as to add this Euro as head coach to the one he received 24 years in the past as a participant. In his seek for this trophy, he has put in place arguably probably the most spectacular again line that this match has seen up to now and their miserly type might be what carries Les Bleus to Berlin.

Antoine Griezmann summed up the French strategy this summer time finest after the 1-0 win over Belgium on Monday by telling home press to cease being so crucial of low-scoring wins. The victory over Austria in Group D and the success in opposition to the Belgians within the spherical of 16 have each come by way of lone personal targets and the Polish group conflict was headed that means too. With three clear sheets from a doable 4 in Germany, it is very important emphasize that settled defenses might be as useful — if no more — than prolific assaults in a title tilt.

Following the Purple Devils win, Deschamps’ males are the one staff left on this Euro that has not been behind in a sport for a single minute — higher than even Spain’s report. That may be tempered with the truth that they’re the staff that has spent probably the most period of time — 264 minutes to be exact — degree with their opponents. Nevertheless, recapturing their FIFA 2006 World Cup meanness on the again — they conceded simply twice en path to their ultimate loss to Fabio Cannavaro-inspired Italy — is spectacular in its personal proper.

There are quite a few elements which have contributed in direction of this sound rearguard with the principle one amongst them William Saliba’s addition to the beginning XI. For a participant who was made to attend pretty lengthy earlier than being examined at senior worldwide degree, the Arsenal man has seized his alternative with out hesitation and has been France’s finest participant. Though it’s uncommon for defenders to be singled out for reward at main worldwide tournaments, the 23-year-old’s consistency and mature taking part in fashion has picked up the place Raphael Varane left off and this step up is arguably what was retaining him out of the elite bracket till now.

Deschamps has handed on the likes of Aymeric Laporte previously however has clearly stored tabs on Saliba’s development since being made an integral a part of Mikel Arteta’s Gunners XI. The Bondy-born stopper is already arguably the important thing piece on this rock stable rearguard and his function in probably going additional than the Portugal sport might make him participant of the match materials. Saliba is just not doing it alone, although, with Jules Kounde’s conversion right into a greater than satisfactory right-sided resolution additionally massively essential in all of this given the overall dearth of high quality proper backs.

Proper and left backs, however notably on the precise aspect, have been seen as Les Bleus’ potential weak spot for a very long time, however the Barcelona man is making mild of that. That is one thing that Deschamps noticed and has labored on since earlier worldwide tournaments with Kounde primarily being formed since Euro 2020. Barca’s use of the Frenchman in that very same function has expedited the method, nevertheless it arguably began at worldwide degree and has since been mirrored by his membership.

Kounde’s progress lastly bearing fruit on the expense of Benjamin Pavard blends effectively with Theo Hernandez’s disciplined work on the left and Milan teammate Mike Maignan’s consistency in aim. Even when Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano nonetheless has the odd mistake in him, as we noticed in opposition to Poland for the penalty, the consequence has been a watertight unit which Deschamps has not touched. The masterful contact which has arguably made this so efficient, although, has been N’Golo Kante’s triumphant return to type in entrance of that protection.

Though he’s now 33 and unlikely to nonetheless be concerned in 2026 come the World Cup on U.S. soil, the Al-Ittihad man is doing what he has at all times achieved finest, kind of in addition to he has ever achieved it. Even when Kante drops out of the equation by the point France subsequent challenges for a global title, the Saliba, Kounde, Hernandez and Upamecano mixture won’t. Aurelien Tchouameni’s regularity with Les Bleus right here and moonlighting in protection with Actual Madrid means that he might fill that void.

It may not be straightforward on the attention at instances and Deschamps is doing little to win over the neutrals however there’s a level at which it’s important to respect his strategy. The 55-year-old is arguably as shut because it involves being the archetypal match specialist tactician and nonetheless instructions the respect of his gamers which allows this type of technique to repay. Don’t wager in opposition to them squeezing previous Portugal and exorcizing the ghosts of their Euro 2016 ultimate loss earlier than tackling the semifinals with a view to toppling both Spain or the German hosts.