It was always going to end in tears for France. Major tournaments usually do.
But this was not the usual conclusion. The accepted norm is for the boys in blue to sink in a puerile falling out over something one or another of them said or did. Self destruction is supposed to be the French way.
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But Antoine Griezmann, the young winger, was inconsolably blubbing into his teammates’ shirts at the full time whistle for a different reason. This had been an opportunity wasted.
Germany may be champions elect – but they were nothing special. The young Frenchmen really did not push them anything like they could have done judged by their previous feats in this competition.
Few people had expected the French to cut quite such a dash as they had managed to this point and it looked as though the players thought they had overachieved, too.
People had been expecting an implosion. So winning three games, scoring 10 goals and conceding just two will do for us, their performance seemed to say. But more self belief could have taken them a long way.
That said, being faced with a wall in the opposition goal must be soul destroying. Twice Manuel Neuer stood more or less motionless, other than to raise an arm to punch away shots. It was as if he was saying: “Pff, is that all you’ve got? Have another go.”
So the team is a young one, and players like Griezmann, 23, and Paul Pogba, 21, will be better for this experience when it comes to Euro 2016 in France.
But this was a chance that got away against a super power – and it is never too early to start winning.
pradley@thenational.ae
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