Lizarazu targets Malo Gusto and demands offensive improvement before France-Turkey

Three days after France’s defeat in Italy (3-1) in the Ligue des Nations, Bixente Lizarazu delivered a scathing analysis of the Blues’ weaknesses, specifically targeting right-back Malo Gusto and the offensive inefficiency of Zinédine Zidane’s team.

Interviewed on the Téléfoot set ahead of Sunday’s home match against Turkey (20:45), the 1998 World Cup winner first identified a structural problem in the defensive block. “Since we play very high up the pitch, since we like to have the ball, we expose ourselves on counters. We need to improve our defensive recovery,” he explained, attributing part of the fragility seen in the second half to the team’s collective positioning.

The former defender then individualized his criticism, without harshly condemning the Chelsea player. “Malo Gusto’s individual mistake, I don’t want to dwell on it, it happens. But it also destabilizes a defense. It was systematically fragile on his flank.” A factual observation that highlights Gusto’s difficulty in containing Italian attacks down his wing throughout the match.

On the offensive side, Lizarazu also noted a lack of clinical finishing despite creating chances. “We create opportunities, there are posts, a lack of luck. Now we need to put them away.” The return of Kylian Mbappé, who was absent against Italy, is presented as a key factor in remedying this problem: “His presence, with his qualities as a goalscorer, will obviously help us.”

France approaches this match in a delicate position at the top of Group 2, with a one-point lead over Belgium but level on points with Italy, who lead the Blues on goal difference. A victory against Turkey is essential to maintain room for maneuver in the race for qualification.