France back Mike Maignan with continuity to rebuild confidence after Senegal | OneFootball

France are standing firmly behind Mike Maignan after an off-colour World Cup debut against Senegal, with the reset built on continuity and confidence. They face Iraq on Monday at 23:00 in Philadelphia.

According to L'Équipe, immediately after the final whistle in New York on Tuesday, Brice Samba, Robin Risser and goalkeeping coach Franck Raviot offered support. Hugo Lloris’s successor conceded an added-time goal to Ibrahim Mbaye after leaving his near post exposed, and mis-hit several passes under pressure.

His display does not alter the hierarchy and the staff have kept his routines intact, preferring to underline what he has done well rather than show him errors. He is viewed internally as calm and fully invested, with Raviot and Didier Deschamps speaking to him regularly. The goalkeeping group remains tight around the number one, after a frustrating AC Milan season in which the Champions League slipped away on the final day.

The mistakes against Senegal were unusual. Technically, he can tend to raise his arms high on powerful close-range shots, and in Mbaye’s case he delayed, anticipated to the open side and left space. Two shots on target, one goal, a return below his standards.

His distribution also faltered under pressure, with a loose first touch on a difficult MetLife Stadium pitch complicating decisions. At Bentley University’s training base near Boston the conditions are better, and the surface in Philadelphia is expected to be an improvement.

With six days between the win over Senegal and Iraq, adjustments are easier to make after a victory. Maignan will stick to his pre-match routine of stretching, mobilisation and prevention work in the gym or on the grass, then a visualisation run inside his goal without a ball to keep his bearings. Those close to him do not expect him to change, he trusts his level and his direction.

Source: L'Équipe