France Boss Didier Deschamps Must Drop Patrice Evra and Blaise Matuidi vs. Swiss

Hosts France have made a solid, if unspectacular, start to the 2016 UEFA European Championship, and Didier Deschamps’ men will close out Group A against Switzerland at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille on Sunday.

While boasting six points from a possible six is obviously a big plus, the truth is that Les Bleus are yet to really impress on home soil this summer.

Now that the pressure is off and a place in the latter stages of their own tournament is already guaranteed, the French could finally start to express themselves against a vulnerable Swiss outfit in northern France.

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Deschamps made a few changes for the 2-0 win over Albania at Stade Velodrome in Marseille on Wednesday; Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba were left out of the starting XI, while the formation was changed from the regular 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1.

The Juventus man, despite looking better against the Albanians than he did against Romania in the opening fixture of Euro 2016 at Stade de France in Paris, is still yet to replicate his awesome form at club level on the international stage.

With Paris Saint-Germain’s Blaise Matuidi one of France’s players most struggling for form after the first two matches—along with Juventus’ Patrice Evra—Pogba could finally be given the chance to start in his preferred left central-midfield role against Switzerland on Sunday.

Under pressure, partly because of the ridiculous amount of pre-tournament hype he was subject to and partly because his performances over the past two years with the national team have not been good enough, the 23-year-old gestured towards the French press after Dimitri Payet scored the hosts’ late second goal against Albania.

Speaking in a statement issued to Agence France Presse, as reported by ESPN FC, Pogba denied targeting the media with his offensive gesture.

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The joy I displayed with a big gesture, as is my habit, following the liberating goal by Dimitri Payet against Albania has today turned into a controversy.

I want to say sincerely, but very firmly that, whatever interpretation you want to take from these images, I never had any intention to make a gesture towards someone or take my revenge on anyone.

I was crazily happy by the goal, and I turned to the stand where I knew my mother and my brothers were and I did my usual celebration, arms in the air and fists lifted. Nothing more, nothing less.

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Pogba is struggling to live up to the exorbitant amount of pre-tournament hype that was heaped upon him, but Deschamps is not helping him by continuing to play him in a position that is not his natural role.

The Juventus superstar favours the left central-midfield role that Matuidi currently occupies, and the France No. 14’s disappointing displays against Romania and Albania have led to calls for the PSG all-rounder to be dropped against Switzerland.

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Matuidi looks every bit the player who has been run ragged by club and country this season, and there is little doubt that the 29-year-old has been a victim of his own success over the past few campaigns in Paris.

However, many choose to bemoan his lack of energy and limited performances at the end of another long term and ignore that accumulated fatigue to snipe at his jaded form instead.

If Deschamps is going to continue to rely on Matuidi in the latter stages, the irrepressible PSG midfielder must be rested against Switzerland. Being given a breather would allow Pogba the chance to start in his stronger left-sided central role next to N’Golo Kante of Leicester City.

Whether Deschamps reverts to 4-3-3 or sticks with 4-2-3-1, Pogba stands a better chance of shining against the Swiss if he is closer to the left rather than the right.

In an interview with Le Parisien (h/t ESPN FC’s Mark Rodden), 1998 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2000-winning former France international Emmanuel Petit criticised Deschamps’ positioning of Pogba on the right side of central midfield.

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We didn't take Paul Pogba to improve the defensive statistics. Like (Antoine) Griezmann, he has the talent necessary to help Les Bleus pass a milestone.

At Juve, he strings together great performances but he doesn't play in the same set-up. When a player is used to having liberties and you impose strict orders and one area on him, that frustrates him and it's counterproductive.

I'm expecting more in attack. We'll need his skills to win matches.

His preferred position is not on the right side. What bothers me more than anything is that the pattern remains fixed in midfield.

With Croatia, Rakitic and Modric spend their time at the front, at the back, to the left, to the right. There are instructions when the ball is lost but in using it there's freedom while still respecting tactical rigour.

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Something else that has been made clear for all to see in France’s opening two Euro 2016 matches is that Patrice Evra is struggling for form at this level.

Although he may continue to look a force to be reckoned with in Serie A and even the UEFA Champions League with Juventus, the 35-year-old’s best international days appear to be behind him.

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Evra conceded a penalty against Romania, which gifted Anghel Iordanescu’s men their equaliser, while he was run ragged against an Albania side many thought Les Bleus would dispose of comfortably in a competitive environment.

Deschamps’ faith in the long-serving left-back appears to be unshakeable. However, some are questioning whether it is misplaced, and they appear to have a point.

Evra will undoubtedly start in most, if not all, of the hosts’ remaining matches at this tournament. After all, the former Manchester United man is the most experienced outfield member of the squad.

If Deschamps is going to continue to select France’s controversial former skipper, though, he must give thought to resting him against Switzerland and handing AS Roma’s Lucas Digne a chance to impress after a strong season on loan in Serie A from PSG.

A breather could give Evra the opportunity he needs to reflect on two woeful showings so far, so that he arrests the slide in the latter stages. Digne also deserves the chance to offer a peek at the potential future at left-back for France after his success in the Italian capital.

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With a place in the knockout rounds already assured, Deschamps can afford to experiment a little with his team. However, to avoid making the same mistake he made back in 2014 at the World Cup in Brazil, the 47-year-old tactician must keep his key players in from the start.

Evra and Matuidi, in their current form, should not be considered indispensable. When played in their strongest roles, Payet, Griezmann, Pogba and Kante are the four most integral figures outside of a largely settled back four—Evra aside.