France stride wearily east to Bucharest on Friday, the next staging post in their attempt to add the European title to the World Cup.
With a glittering squad of stars, they remain the tournament favourites and few will anticipate any serious problems when they come up against Switzerland on Monday. Didier Deschamps has declared ‘a new competition starts’ with the knockout phase but Group F has surely taken its toll and its rigours may yet return to haunt them.
Perhaps the F was for fatigue. France emerged battered and bruised. Injuries and yellow cards are stacking up after two games in the sweltering heat of Budapest.
France have qualified from Group F as winner but it may have taken its toll on world champions
By finishing first, they are thrust into the tougher side of the draw along with in-form Italy, the world’s No1 ranked side Belgium, two-time champions Spain and holders Portugal.
They have plenty of experience, incredible quality and a rare depth of talent in the squad but if the French are going to win Euro 2020, and emulate the heroics of the side captained by Deschamps in 2000, they are going to have to do it the hard way.
At the moment, they are without a fully fit left back in the squad. Lucas Hernandez has been nursing a knee problem. He sat out the game against Hungary, and returned against Portugal on Wednesday only to find he still had discomfort in the knee.
Hernandez came off at half-time, replaced by Lucas Digne, who damaged a thigh muscle within seven minutes. Deschamps admitted the outlook for Digne was not good and played the rest of the match with Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot at left back.
The French have been hampered by injury concerns as bookings as they embark on knockout
It was the second time a French substitute had limped off. Ousmane Dembele came on for half an hour against Hungary before a knee injury ended his Euros.
To add to Deschamps’ problems Marcus Thuram and Thomas Lemar both pulled out of training with injuries on Thursday. At right back, Benjamin Pavard has had a torrid start. Pavard suffered a blow to the head in the opening game against Germany, was targeted by Hungary and left out against Portugal.
He was replaced by young centre half Jules Kounde, deployed out of position on his first start and winning only his second cap, after a debut against Wales in a warm-up friendly.
‘Normally, I’m a centre back and the coach is aware of that,’ said 22-year-old Kounde. ‘But he knows right back is a position I can play. Defensively, I thought I played well. In attack, it is more complicated, it is not as natural for me.’
The full backs cover so much ground at speed in the modern game perhaps it is no surprise to see them at breaking point.
Left-backs Lucas Digne (pictured) and Lucas Hernandez were both forced off with injury
Pavard is also one of five of France’s first-choice XI to be on a yellow card and only one more from a ban. Hernandez, Presnel Kimpembe, Hugo Lloris and Antoine Griezmann are the others.
Even the group games against Hungary brought no respite. They became gruelling battles before a partisan crowd of more than 60,000 who inspired the hosts to perform well above their station.
The intense heat has tested the players. Griezmann said he felt ‘cooked’ after the game against Hungary. And it has forced teams to amend the training schedules. Both France and Portugal moved to evening sessions in Budapest where temperatures reached 38 degrees on Thursday. ‘It’s true the conditions are difficult,’ said Kounde. ‘High temperatures are difficult to play in and we have played in outstanding matches, demanding a lot of physical aptitude. It is the same for other teams so we have no excuses.’
Antoine Griezemann (left) said he felt ‘cooked’ in sweltering heat against Hungary
Switzerland, France’s opponents in Bucharest on Monday, will have enjoyed more than a week to recharge. ‘It is a fact we have less rest,’ said Kounde. ‘We can see that as a disadvantage but we are not going to blame anything on the schedule. We played a difficult game in a lot of heat but there’s no doubt we will be 100 per cent ready and completely motivated.’
Beat the Swiss and France go to St Petersburg. If they win there, it is to the last four in London. If they are in the semi-final on July 6, it will be a sixth game in 21 days across five countries.
Portugal find even less time to recharge since Wednesday’s 2-2 draw. Their next game is against Belgium, who qualified with ease and have had their feet up since Monday, in Seville on Sunday where the temperatures are set to sizzle again. But where there is Cristiano Ronaldo, there is hope.
Despite the struggles, France have impressed in parts and have full backing of population
France can find reasons to stay positive too. Karim Benzema is back in the groove, Paul Pogba has been brilliantly influential in two of the three group games and enjoys a wonderful understanding with Kylian Mbappe when he plays from the left flank.
While, back home, a nation is uniting behind them. The TV audience peaked at 17.3million for the 2-2 draw against Portugal. This represents the biggest figures since the World Cup in Russia. And the French will find a little reminder of home when they arrive in Romania, where they will train at the Arc de Triomphe Stadium.
They might need all the help they can get to pull this off.