Georgia is a prototypical Eastern European national team - plays hard and defensively. Looks to lock down for 90 minutes, try to beat you on a counter or sneak out with a draw. They forced the defending world cup champions, Spain, to sweat for 86 minutes before conceding a goal in these qualifiers. So France should expect much of the same this Friday. With that in mind, the word of out Clairfontaine is that Deschamps might look to start both strikers - Benzema and Giroud. This would most likely entail leaning on a 4-4-2 with both strikers up top (look for Varane get a start as well).
So what would that mean for the rest of the formation? Mostly 2 central more defensive oriented midfielders - Matuidi and Gonalons in the middle with wingers Ribery (if he is fit) on the left and Menez/Valbuena on the right. So no true central midfielder with the #10 responsibilities. Of course Ribery and Valbuena both have a tendency to drift inside as the game goes on. But can Giroud and Benzema cohabitate at the top of the formation?
Against Georgia, maybe Deschamps needs to take some chances and go with another more offensive minded midfielder. Try to get an early "cheap" goal...hit long range shots, crosses and high balls into the area for either Giroud to knock down or to get Benzema to latch and clean up some loose balls. I think if France looks to build up to the perfect goal, they will only get frustrated by what is sure to be a Georgia packed in around their goal.
Let see if the 4-4-2 can work...it has not been very successful when used in the past.
Allez les Bleus.
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