France vs. Sweden: 4 Things Les Bleus Should Test in Friendly Game

France take on Sweden on Tuesday night at Marseille's Stade Velodrome in what is the second of their two friendlies this international break and it gives Didier Deschamps a chance to experiment a little against the Scandinavian side.

On Friday night, France drew 1-1 with Albania at the Stade de la Route de Lorient in Rennes. The game turned out to be a good test for Deschamps’s side and it gave the coach an opportunity to try a new formation.

The former Marseille manager decided to play 4-3-1-2 and give Lyon hit-man Alexandre Lacazette a starting spot alongside Karim Benzema.

Despite the result, the formation was a success in an attacking sense, the results might not be instantaneous, but there was enough movement and creativity to suggest Deschamps should consider sticking with the change in tactics.

However, that does not mean that Deschamps shouldn’t continue to experiment for the game against Sweden on Tuesday evening.

Here are four things Les Bleus should test in the friendly game against Sweden.

Play Gignac and Lacazette Together

Vahan Stepanyan/Associated Press

Gignac was superb against Armenia.

Tuesday’s game will be played at the Stade Velodrome, home of Olympique de Marseille, which is also the home ground for the in-form Andre-Pierre Gignac.

The 28-year-old striker made his return to the international setup last month and was superb in France’s 3-0 win over Armenia. Gignac scored twice and set up the third and looked every part the international striker France has wanted him to become for years.

Gignac has scored 10 goals in 13 games for Marseille this season, only three have come at home, but it would be a great boost for the striker to line up for his country at the Velodrome.

Rather than pair him with Karim Benzema, it would be very interesting to see how the partnership between Gignac and Lacazette works on the pitch. Both are very mobile, but also deadly in the box. Gignac’s predatory instincts, when Lacazette moves wide, could give France a new dimension upfront.

Time to Give Morgan Schneiderlin a Start in Midfield

Michel Euler/Associated Press

Schneiderlin should start against Sweden.

In Deschamps' 4-3-1-2, the width is no longer provided by the wingers of the 4-3-3, instead it comes predominantly from the two full-backs.

With Christophe Jallet or Mathieu Debuchy, when he returns from injury, on the right, and Lucas Digne or Layvin Kurzawa on the left, France is blessed with some of the best attacking full-backs around.

However, if you want to keep the centre-backs protected, you need a defensive midfielder that is able to read the game well and drop back to create a defensive trio.

Yohan Cabaye wasn’t exactly poor against Albania, but his lack of confidence was clear to see. He is not the player he used to be, and he has never been the best option defensively.

If Deschamps was to start with Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin in the centre of the three-man midfield, he would be giving his defence more protection and allowing the full-backs to attack at will.

Given Cabaye’s current form, it’s difficult to see what you would lose from leaving out the PSG man in his current displays for club and country.

Allow Paul Pogba to Play with More Freedom

Michel Euler/Associated Press

Pogba could be the man to take France forward.

Over the last few months, the role of Paul Pogba has become more and more crucial for Les Bleus. He is the player that gives France that extra edge of excitement. He can spark moments of magic and make things happen.

Against Albania, Pogba played as one of the three midfielders in front of the defence, with Mathieu Valbuena playing in the No.10 role.

It would be interesting and intriguing to see how Pogba would perform if he was given the licence to play as the creator. Passing off his defensive duties to one of the other central midfielders, he would be allowed to fully express himself against Sweden.

Pogba would likely relish the role and it could be what France needs to take them to the next level.

Unleash Kurzawa Against Sweden's Right-Flank

EuroFootball/Getty Images

Kurzawa should be given an opportunity to start.

Injuries to both Patrice Evra and Benoit Tremoulinas meant a call-up to the full France squad for Monaco’s Layvin Kurzawa. The left-back came on during the Albania game to replace Lucas Digne, and he showed in those fleeting few minutes that he is ready to shine at that level.

Digne’s minutes for PSG have been limited this season, whereas Kurzawa has been impressive for Monaco despite their slow start to the season.

If Deschamps feels Kurzawa was ready for a place in the squad, he should also take it a step further and start the left-back against Sweden. This is exactly the sort of opportunity that these friendlies are for.

There is no point sticking exclusively to what you already know, and Kurzawa has enough experience for the Monegasque side that this step up won’t faze him in the slightest.