How Not to Win With An Attck Worth 150 Goals
This is an article about the struggles of one of the most talented teams in Europe and the world, and their struggles to win matches during the UEFA Nations League competition. It's an article to lay bare the dilemma of their coach in utilizing and ultra talented frontline in the absence of their two best midfielders.
If one month ago someone had predicted that the French national team would be occupying the last position on their UEFA Nations League group, he would have been called a joker. How can the mighty France, world champions struggle against teams like Austria and Denmark? A team with an attack that amassed a total of 150 goals in the just concluded season has failed to score more than once in the 4 matches.
They opened the campaign with a 1-2 loss at home to Denmark as they took the lead through their talisman, only to crumble later and concede two goals to end up losing the match. The Frenchmen toiled and huffed and puffed to no avail, dominating possession, but with no end product to show for it as creativity from midfield to unlock the opposition's defense was scarce and almost non existent. In this match they paraded an attack with over 80 goals.
In the second match just as in the first, they took the lead against Croatia but couldn't hold on till the end as they conceded in the final 10 minutes to draw the match 1-1. Another case of not being able to hold on to a lead, a situation that's not easily associated with this current French team. Perhaps they could've been excused as the two top dogs (Kylian and Karim) did not feature in the match, but then they still fielded an attack with over 70 goals between them.
The third match should've been a time for redemption and an opportunity to Kickstart their campaign properly, but expectations were doused when Austria took the lead in the first half. It only took the intervention of Kylian from the bench in the 83rd minute to salvage a point from the match. The team looked like a lot of work rate but very little returns, as the attackers had to feed off crumps.
On their return leg against Croatia in France, the crowd was silenced early as the Croats took an early lead through a Luka Modrič penalty. Again another 85 minutes of futile toiling ensued with nothing to show as the away team ran out winners. The attack of Benzema, Mbappé and Nkunku that started that match has scored a whooping 118 goals between them. But out of their 17 shots in the game, only 4 were on target and 5 were blocked while 8 went off target.
Karim Benzema, Kylian Mbappé, Christopher Nkunku and Wissam Ben Yedder are a frightening strike force with about 150 goals between them, but could not score more than one goal per match, ending with a measly 3 goals in 4 matches. This begs the questions, what is going wrong for them? Is it poor movement on their part? Or is it poor service from the midfield? Or is the system not working?
The biggest problem this team has right now is its midfield. The absence of Ngolo Kante's energy and positioning intelligence and Paul Pogba's exquisite vision is affecting the team badly. Though Ngolo played the first match, he was paired with Tchouameni who is more of a screener that a creative hub in a midfield two. This meant that the creative burden shifted to the wingers Coman and Mbappé, which made it easy for the Danish players to overcrowd the wings and neutralize the threat.
France under Didier Deschamps have always been a defense first team, not a possession based team. They've always been most deadly when the hit the opposition on the counter with Paul Pogba's diagonal passes and Mbappé's pace wrecking havoc (I hope you remember Marcos Rojo). But in the last 4 matches, the likes of Tchouameni, Rabiot, Kamara and Guendouzi were more comfortable making easy sideways passes and hoping the forwards can perform magic.
As much as they're currently struggling, this team isn't a bad team, but they're just missing the little ingredients that made it such a tough nut to crack and a well oiled machine. The system hasn't changed, but Deschamps has some decisions to make. He can well start by reverting Kounde to Centre back in place of Konaté, and bring Pavard back into full back. He can then bring Theo Hernandez in to replace Lucas Digne. The most important part being the bringing back of Paul Pogba and Ngolo Kanté partnership, or finding a suitable creative midfielder like Thomas Lemar to fill in the creative midfield spot.
Untill then, France are really showing us how not to win with a 150 goal attack. And for their own sake, long may it not continue.
Excerpts from a Thoughtful Morning
So I woke up this morning with one of those nostalgic feelings that just drives your thoughts into fits of life's experiences analysis. And I thought I might just share it with you all. So here's what I managed to write down.
Advised to be cautious of what I feed my soul, so I read good books, be it religious, motivational, inspirational or historical. I eschew negativity, pray daily, attend seminars and webinars, keep a positive mindset even in the midst of all the negatives going on around me.
**So why does my mind race?**
**Why do I feel incomplete and inadequate?**
They say love is a beautiful thing. It nourishes the body, uplifts the wearied spirit and liberates the soul. They say God is love. It's patient, meek, kind,. They say it doesn't judge, it's not prejudiced and it's comforting.
**So why do I feel uncomfortable when loved?**
**Why is my innocence perceived as ignorance?**
**And why am I forlorn in ecstasy?**
Growing up I was taught and still being taught that my soul is a subject of a fierce battle between two spirits within me, the good and the bad. In church I'm constantly reminded to feed the good with good, and starve the bad by eschewing evil. This I've consciously been keeping to, planting good with good actions and watering it with Bible studies.
So why do I have this constant diatribe against my inner angels when I should be intrepidly confronting my demons?
Why am I timid amongst sincere, loving and good friends but conversable with my demons?
They say life is a journey and we all have to chart our own course. We have to constantly navigate our way towards our purpose. The say the worst thing to happen is for us to be stagnant. As a wise man once said "if you can't fly, run. If you can't run, walk. If you can't walk, crawl. Just don't stop moving. It seems motion is the guarantee of success. And we're where we are for a purpose.
**So why am I where I am?**
**Where am I going?**
**Why am I going where I'm going?**
Where's my final destination?
Daily I wake up, start up, going about my affairs like one with the knowledge of his destination and purpose. But then what does purpose entail? And what's the situation of our destination? Our lives are daily influenced by the decisions and conditioning of people and a society who know nothing about us and couldn't care less. I live within the tenets of the religious statutes with which I was brought up. A religion I did not choose, but only adopted through my parents and their parents before them.
The say you get what you give, so I strive everyday to do good to all that comes my way, but evil trails me like a shadow seeking to outpace and extinguish me. Why is it so easy to do good? But then nothing good comes easy?
Man is born into a family he did not choose, in a country he did not choose. He gets to accept traditions and cultures he did not choose. He's conditioned by the definition of good and evil of a society he did not choose. But then he's responsible for what becomes of his life. He strives and toils to meet ends meet, to contribute his quota to the development of the human race. He tries to affect the lives of his immediate environment the best way he can, and tries to fulfill a purpose that for the best part he doesn't know. He tries to do good throughout his life till the day he withers away.
So what's the ultimate goal?
To live well or to die well?
My introduction post on read.cash
The idea of answering the question "who am I?" has always been a mentally tormenting issue for me. I've sat here for a long time trying to figure out how to introduce myself properly and holistically. Sometimes this makes me wonder if I actually really know myself... Naah! I know myself and here's to introducing myself.
Who am I?
I recognize with the name Victor Yellow, a Nigerian of Ibibio descent both in birth and upbringing. I'm the last in the family of four. I'm usually seen as the odd one out in the family (especially by my mom), due to my taciturn nature and perceived air of arrogance (believe me I'm not). I speak Ibibio, English and some of igbo. I'm currently an urban and Regional planning student who has been at home for more than 3 months now (the Nigerian sickness), a final year student who has not been able to graduate because of the war between ASUU and the Federal government.
Who am I?
Apart from Town planning, I'm also into media (I do live streaming in church). I'm a video editor, I love public speaking, creative writing and I'm into motion graphics as well. I'm a sucker for politics and quality leadership and can spend hours analysing political strategies and intricacies.
Did I mention that I'm a big fan of the extraordinary, I like asking pertinent questions that borders on impossibilities (perhaps that's where the air of arrogance comes from). I guess that's why I've read almost all of Dan Brown's books. I also love Marie Corelli, the way she uses words as her erotic tools, while delivering very important and interesting lessons underneath.
Who am I?
I'm a Christian who doesn't abide by the tenets of religious capitalism as is evident in the churches of the present generation. I believe that everyone should develop their own personal relationship with God instead of relying on everything their pastor says. A constant and unrepentant rebel who thrives best when the odds are stacked against him (okay I think I'm beginning to sound arrogant). Over the years I've tried and strived to discover myself and see where my talents best fits and I've heard people say they wish to be like me (lol, me that hasn't figured anything out yet). I believe in just taking things one day at a time and eventually it'll all make sense.
Who am I?
Okay enough of the serious stuff, I'm also a fun guy (especially when I'm not too comfortable in my space), I spend most my time listening to music, good music be it hip-hop, RnB, highlife, pop, any genre that can calm my nerves and inspire me as well, depending on my mood at a particular time (though I can't sing to save my life) A lil secret tho, I crush alot on Beyonce and have an unresolved beef with JayZ cos he stole her from me; or not (well, that's just how I feel sometimes).
How did I hear about Read.cash?
I came across this wonderful project on a friend's social media handle through a link to his blog about a post that I found interesting. Then I ended up signing up. I'm not really a professional on the crypto business, but I hope to contribute my own little quota to the development of this ecosystem and community.
Though I'm mostly seen as a loner, I hope I am able to fit into this space and if possible, find my purpose. I'm optimistic that I'll receive a warm, fresh and rewarding 😋 welcome.
@DiikaanYe
