Let's not bury the lead. France dismantled Sweden in a performance so complete it felt less like a match and more like a statement of intent. Didier D...
Let's not bury the lead. France dismantled Sweden in a performance so complete it felt less like a match and more like a statement of intent. Didier Deschamps, that old defensive warhorse, has somehow built a side that can equally destroy you with a low block or a blistering transitional attack. The question now hangs in the air like smoke over a stadium: is there a team alive that can actually contain this lotDeschamps, ever the pragmatist, did what he always does. He stood in the technical area with a face like thunder, cautioning anyone who would listen that the World Cup is won in June, not November. But even he must have smiled inwardly as his forwards ran riot. The connection between the midfield and the attack was telepathic, the pressing was coordinated, and the finishing, frankly, was clinical in a way that makes you wonder if they've been bottling this up since the last tournament. There is a freedom in their play, a swagger that suggests they believe they are unbeatable.Yet here is the rub. Football is a game of fine margins, and France's arrogance, if it grows, could be their undoing. Sweden, to their credit, tried to park the bus early doors, but the sheer quality of Les Bleus' transitional play ripped that plan apart. You cannot just sit deep against this side; you need to hurt them. You need to force their full backs into uncomfortable positions and test their defensive discipline. Easier said than done, of course.But let's not get carried away. This is the same France who, just a few years ago, could look listless and passive against a well organised side. Now, they have tactical flexibility. They can mix it up in the mixer when needed, or they can simply evaporate a defence with a single pass. It is a masterclass in squad building and coaching. For the rest of Europe, seeing this performance must have sent a shiver down the spine. Deschamps is playing chess while others are playing checkers, and right now, he has every piece on the board moving in perfect harmony.So, can anyone stop them Records are made to be broken, and the beautiful game has a habit of humbling the mighty. But if I were writing a script, I wouldn't bet against this French machine. They are united, free, and they look utterly brilliant. The rest of the world better start finding a plan B, because plan A just got blown out of the water.
