The French national team reached the quarter-finals of the Euro 2024 Championship by eliminating Portugal on penalties (0-0, 5-3 tab) after a “slow, boring and dull” match. The European press as a whole considers the qualification of the French national team to the semi-finals as a trademark Didier Deschamps. His reluctance to approach is not winning fans among fans of the game.
“France are playing badly. Not better, not worse, ugly. It was like that when they lifted the 2018 World Cup, and now in Germany when they have the best team in the tournament.” “How Deschamps wants it to happen,” criticised Spanish daily El Mundo, the Blues' next opponent in the European Championship.
France 'did not deserve to qualify'
The daily A Bola, frustrated by the Selecao's elimination, does not forget facing a French team that “does not convince anyone”. “Didier Deschamps' team beat Portugal in Hamburg, but they may find it difficult to remember the last goal they scored in the Euros,” roars the Portuguese daily.
“Under Deschamps, France have won too many games without deserved it,” said another Spanish newspaper, El País, indignantly, fearing being chosen against a French team that has given up too much on football. La Roja, although very sedated since the sending-off of the competition, is not a loser and could well break the teeth on the French team's iron backline. The Blues' only asset in this competition.
Because for the rest, “it's not a pretty sight”, criticizes Chris Sutton in England. The former England international believes that France “doesn't deserve to qualify”. Marca, which, like Vanguardia, suffered a “very nice” and “hard to digest” first period, said that “France offered less than their opponent”.
“They didn't do much to convince them.”
And if the Guardian, like others, felt a clear resurgence of interest in the spectacle presented in the second half, “the whole evening was marked by anxiety, nervousness and tension more suited to a final,” the British newspaper deplores. “The French may have lacked fluidity and flair, but Didier Deschamps’ team are still in the game,” the Daily Mail confirms.
“They are strong defensively, with a trio of ball-winning midfielders in front of the back four, but they sometimes lack imagination in attack,” the paper added. There was repeated criticism at the end of the match as the Blues lacked imagination in attack and rarely managed to create any danger.
The BBC noted coolly: “They have done little to convince the fans that they can beat an impressive Spanish side in their next match.” The Blues are nearing the top of the Euros, but their popularity abroad is not at its highest.
