Le Journal des Bleus in Qatar: record audience, ambitious Dembele and winning replacements

From the moment they arrived in Qatar and even before, the reigning world champions have experienced all the emotions. They started their World Cup with great success against Australia (4-1), losing Lucas Hernandez to injury in the process. A new blow after the packages of Christopher Nkunku and Karim Benzema, which should not prevent them from moving forward!

“Goodbye”

Touching his right knee at the opening of an opponent’s score, on Tuesday evening, Lucas Hernandez will not be able to go to the end of the competition. Examinations conducted on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday by the left player of Bayern Munich showed that he had a torn cruciate ligament.

Barely recovering from a groin injury, the defender will have to take off the field for several weeks. After enjoying his last moments with his partners, he will leave the Blues’ base camp on Thursday.

Opposition of the day

As they did four years ago in Russia, France’s headquarters followed the same methodology to ensure that the substitutes kept the rhythm between matches, organizing a two-half 30-minute confrontation the next day for a victory over Australia. Thus, the players who did not start on Tuesday at the Al-Janoub Stadium (except Theo Hernandez) were able to communicate with the Qatari side Al-Markiya (D1). Marcus Thuram (twice), Eduardo Camavinga and Jordan Veretut scored four goals in a 4-0 tricolor win.

During the confrontation, which involved Rafael Varane, Eduardo Camavinga tried his hand at the position of left back. The Madrid player could be an option after Theo Hernandez, the only specialist in the position after the injury of his brother Lucas. He also played as a right winger.

Phrase: “I want to be the protagonist of this World Cup”

At a press conference, Ousmane Dembele, who held the Blues for the first time since 28 March 2021 on Tuesday night, announced his ambitions for this World Cup. “I am ambitious, I want to start games, score, score. I want to be the protagonist of this World Cup. In 2018 I missed my first match which cost me my seat. I came out of a very difficult year with an injury and a lot of things that were talked about everywhere. I have become calmer, more mature, – assures the Barcelona striker. It’s one of my priorities to be able to grow in this World Cup, I want to keep working, working to be able to make a great World Cup. »

At the same time, the former Renne returned to the criticism he received when he was younger, especially regarding his lifestyle. “This question comes up often, but I think it needs to be erased now. I didn’t have any lifestyle issues in the way you mean it… It wasn’t a party! But what is changing is the truth,” admits the person concerned. An opportunity for him to go into more detail about how he has changed since the World Cup in Russia. ” A lot of things! If you compare the 2018 game with Australia and yesterday, there are a lot of changes. I came back after a year and a half without injuries, I’m also a little older, I’m now 25, I have become a little more mature in my game, including outside fields.”

Digit: 12.53

Despite calls for a boycott, the France-Australia match was watched live by 12.53 million viewers, according to Médiamétrie. The market share for the general public aged four and over is 48.1% (and 53.1% for housewives over 50). This is simply the best audience of 2022 that the HPI series has held so far.