France ramp up at Clairefontaine as Champions League finalists set to link up | OneFootball

France intensified preparations with a competitive 10-a-side at Clairefontaine on Monday, and the group will be completed on Tuesday when the Champions League finalists arrive, according to L'Équipe.

Didier Deschamps’ drill brought intensity, rhythm and disputes, which he used to tweak behaviours. He reiterated he prefers players not to contest decisions.

No one wanted to lose, least of all Kylian Mbappé, who was closely tracked by Jules Koundé. With assistant Guy Stéphan refereeing, Mbappé questioned a throw given to Koundé’s side. Koundé’s team led through Marcus Thuram after Michael Olise’s work, N’Golo Kanté equalised, then Thuram struck again from a Manu Koné lay-off.

Third-choice keeper Robin Risser filled in outfield before the break, running plenty but seeing little of the ball. Brice Samba came on afterwards and the Lens man returned to goal.

The six absentees are due at 11.00 on Tuesday, taking the squad to 26 to welcome Emmanuel Macron at lunch. France travel to Nantes on Wednesday to face Côte d’Ivoire on Thursday.

Focus then shifts to Boston, nine days before the delegation lands in the United States. The main party reach base on Wednesday 10 after a 13.00 departure from Paris, while a small staff unit goes on 6 June before the Northern Ireland friendly in Lille. Facility checks continue and recent reports on Bentley University’s pitch and 23 to 29 degree afternoons are positive for the first round.

Source: L'Équipe