France have struggled to score goals at Euro 2024, and owe their qualification to a solid defence that has frustrated their opponents.
On their way to the quarter-finals, France did not score from open play, but scored a penalty kick by Kylian Mbappe and two own goals, the last of which was scored by Jan Woottongen in a 1-0 win over Belgium in the round of 16 on Monday.
Didier Deschamps’ side conceded just once in a 1-1 group stage draw with Poland, a penalty converted by Robert Lewandowski after a replay.
France did not perform to their usual level, and looked like a ghost of the team that scored 9 goals on its way to the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup and 7 in 4 matches in 2018.
But in Germany, France have the best defence, along with Spain, conceding just one goal despite centre-backs William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano not starting a game together in a four-man defence before a friendly against Canada last month.
“We have an interesting defensive solidity. It’s essential at this level. We’ve come a long way, it wasn’t easy for everyone. It’s not just a matter of defending well, we had good possession. They did everything they could to make sure we didn’t concede a goal. Even if we only managed one attack, that’s enough for today,” Deschamps said after the Belgium game.
Striker Randal Kolo Muani, whose deflected shot into the net gave France victory on Monday, also praised the team’s defence.
“We have to be more efficient in front of goal, but defence is the key to success,” said Mwani.
Left-back Theo Hernandez was influential against Belgium with a perfectly timed intervention to deny Yannick Carrasco, and goalkeeper Mike Maignan made 12 crucial saves, two from Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne, as France beat Belgium for the fifth time in a major tournament.
“We have the best goalkeeper in the tournament in Mike Maignan,” former Lille and Roma coach Rudi Garcia told French sports daily L’Equipe. “He is at a very high level and kept us alive in the match. We put in a strong defensive performance and that could take us very far.”
France then face Portugal in a repeat of the 2016 final, won by star Cristiano Ronaldo’s team.
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