In term of possesion of the ball, this is clear that France like to play on counter and prefer to let the ball at his opponent. Counter are based on Griezmann free role in this team who is directly searched by Kanté or Pogba, Griezmann is the key of their counter because he is the player who is able to accelerate their play with one touch pass and his passes are often on the free space created by Giroud for Mbappe on the right side.
Their counter are based on diamond in short space and the key will be to block Griezmann effort and free runs between the lines. So, the other key will be to maintain Mbappe far from our goal with a cover made by Brozovic or Badelj in a defensive mid role, as we did for our match against Argentina and Messi.
I've watched all the aspect of their team and I'm practically sure that Deschamps will play like this, because since the beginning of the tournament, he don't want to play against us and he's afraid by our midfield. He'll play a defensive play with a Matuidi on the left wing in support of the defensive midfielder.
Lloris
Pavard Varane Umtiti Hernandez
Kanté Pogba
Mbappe Griezmann Matuidi
Giroud
Deschamps subs are always the same since the beginning of the tournament. Dembélé - Fekir (or Lemar) - N'Zonzi in for Matuidi (or Mbappe), Griezmann & Pogba. (all depends the score).
Deschamps has fixed his play on a really defensive play and attitude, the whole team must to defend. And Deschamps prefer to let the ball at his opponent for counter them at the right moment, he based his tactics on his experience in Italy, with a mixed catenaccio play.
From the stats that I've wrote in the England thread, Kanté and Pogba are the players who working really hard in the middle for blocking the attacks and follow the counter. Hernandez is also a player who run a lot on his side.
At my eyes, if we arrive to give a yellow at Kanté or Pogba, this will be a really good thing because the both player are aggressive in their runs/pressing, and Pogba is by times frustrated. If those players have a yellow, the match and fight in the middle will be totally different.
Now I think that Giroud wouldn't be a huge problem for our defenders with our physical presence between Vida and Lovren (and Lovren who is knowing very well his play) BUT we must to be careful and don't let him the time to make some back passes for Griezmann or Mbappe in his back. They're playing like that, Giroud is the point of fixation alone up front, and under Deschamps tactics he's clearly not the guy who will try to score, he'll often give the ball for his lads by some back passes and hope for some dribbling in the box.
But trust me, Griezmann is by times off in his attitude during this World Cup (by times he's good and others, he's clearly not), Giroud isn't clearly always able to make all the runs and the intensive pressing asked by Deschamps, Matuidi is a defensive midfielder and not a winger, Mbappe don't like to defend and is always waiting alone for a counter etc etc... All these points must to give us a boost. They're in an high confidence and we must to show them how we're able to brake their tactics and their defensive play based on counter.
Plus, maybe apart Pavard, Kanté, Varane and Griezmann, all those guys losing easily their heads when you're able to frustrate them !
AJMO !
