Game 15: France vs Albania

Everyone is criticising Martial and he has struggled yet he's been the only threat in the entire French team. It's the invisible players not doing anything that should be getting the brunt of the criticism.
 
Matuidi seems to be bullet proof for Deschamps, even if he offers basically nothing in this kind of match.

I would put on Pogba or maybe even Cabaye for Matuidi. They need somebody in the middle of the park that can pass and raise the tempo a bit.
 
That was a truly underwhelming performance from the host nation. Pathetic really.
 
France have been poor, but Albania have been brilliant at marking and closing down French players around the box.

France have to move the ball quicker. They need someone with a larger passing range in CM.
 
Don't know why everyone's saying Coman has been better, what has he done differently?
 
Two young wingers on either side is a bit of a strange tactical decision. They are creating absolutely nothing for Giroud (and he doesn't exactly help with his laboured movement when the ball is in and around the box).

Martial, in particular, looks a bit raw. I think Griezmann for Martial looks like the sub that needs to be made.

On a different note, Kante continues to look fantastic. The definition of a terrier in the midfield.
 
Pogba looks like he'll come on. I think that should be the only change. Giroud should play till the 60-70 min mark I reckon. Btw, what's the love in with Matuidi for Deschamps ?
 
Martial is obviously trying too hard knowing he'll not get another chance to impress.

I think he'll be off at half time
 
8 goals in the 6 last starts for France might help ;)

Doesn't mean that much in itself, given they were mostly friendlies.

Fair enough if the performances were good though - didn't see the matches aside from Romania so can't comment on that.
 
Well I thought with the team France had they would win this tourney, but going off their first game and that half of football they haven't got a hope in hell.
 
Martial is poor, but at least he is trying and not hiding like many others. I am not sure why he deserves more criticism than any of Giroud and Coman who have been completely invisible and shit even when they had the ball.
Well in Giroud's case it's because everyone knows he's limited. After all the posts on here during France's last match about how Martial should be starting, he;s really not shown anything special.
 
Coman did 1 roulette and he's escaping criticism all of a sudden.

He's been just as bad as Martial, and maybe even worse.
 
Ribery could have been immense against such a packed train
 
I definitely don't think Deschamps is going to make 2 subs at half time. Martial should be on the pitch, so too should Coman. Supply to them has been poor in truth. Matuidi the major culprit for that.
 
Coman did 1 roulette and he's escaping criticism all of a sudden.

He's been just as bad as Martial, and maybe even worse.
Have any of them been good? Payet's had a couple of good moments but given it away at lot as well.
 
Martial has been one of the best so far, and involved in more or less everything. Not saying he's having the perfect game, but atleast he's involved and trying to make something happen.
 
Everyone is criticising Martial and he has struggled yet he's been the only threat in the entire French team. It's the invisible players not doing anything that should be getting the brunt of the criticism.

Agreed for the most part but, he is seeing the ball the most and not making good use of it. The French really need to increase their speed and start some more interplay.
 
Anyone else tired of Bilic constantly telling us that Payet has all the attributes in the world?
 
Doesn't mean that much in itself, given they were mostly friendlies.

Fair enough if the performances were good though - didn't see the matches aside from Romania so can't comment on that.

I think he’s been pretty good for France recently, also considering the obvious difficulties in scoring goals, I think French are better off having him in the box. In general I don’t really like or rate Giroud that high, but he’s been good for the national team.
 
Have any of them been good? Payet's had a couple of good moments but given it away at lot as well.

Yeah the entire team has been poor.

Deschamps should sub off Matuidi and get a better passer next to Kante.

But he might sub off 1 of Coman/Martial.
 
Albania is pretty good at doubling pressing.

France left wing is unbalanced: Space is limited with Albania sitting deep, so dribbling is ineffective. Martial's crossing is not there yet. Evra rarely produced a good cross. Martial helps out defensively but he is not great defensively while we know about aged Evra is liability in defense.

Right wing is underwhelming attacking, but at least more defensively solid.
 
Have any of them been good? Payet's had a couple of good moments but given it away at lot as well.

They have all been shite, there is no reason to compare their shittyness.
 
I definitely don't think Deschamps is going to make 2 subs at half time. Martial should be on the pitch, so too should Coman. Supply to them has been poor in truth. Matuidi the major culprit for that.

I don't think DD likes Martial tbh. He'll be off for sure
 
Well I thought with the team France had they would win this tourney, but going off their first game and that half of football they haven't got a hope in hell.
I don't think their team is all that impressive. Don't get me wrong, they have some brilliant players but a few of them like Payet, Pogba and Griezmann like to play in similar areas so they can't really play them all at the same time. They have quite a few average players in the starting line up though when you look past those players. Especially in defence due to their injury woes.
 
Martial is getting slaughtered while Giroud has done sweet FA and Coman hardly touched the ball after the first 8/10 minutes. Payet is nowhere near the Payet of last game. And the less I talk about Matuidi the better!

Only Kante has showed up.

The problem is playing with a 4231 system with 2 CMs who've limited passing ability. The ball is not getting played forward, the play isn't getting switched from one side to other instead it's all very static or sideways movement and then give the ball to Martial (or Coman) to do everything by himself.
 
French fullbacks aren't getting forward, Coman is barely involved and Martial is having a mixed bag of a performance.


It's made Giroud redundant as he needs crosses. Its just Payet trying to play him through the middle but he is too slow and it's funny.
 
I definitely don't think Deschamps is going to make 2 subs at half time. Martial should be on the pitch, so too should Coman. Supply to them has been poor in truth. Matuidi the major culprit for that.
Yup, I don't see what he offers that Kante doesn't.