In the return leg of the World Cup play-off against Ukraine, Didier Deschamps made significant changes to the defensive axis, opting for Raphael Varane and Mamadou Sakho instead of Eric Abidal and Laurent Koscielny. This decision proved successful, especially with Sakho scoring a crucial double that helped propel France into the World Cup. Guy Stephan, the assistant coach of the Blues, explained that Varane was not fully recovered for the first leg due to a knee problem. With time and care, he was fit for the return leg. Abidal had performed well in the first leg, but it was challenging to play two high-level matches in four days. Sakho, who was available, brought efficiency to the team.
BLUES: THE REASONS FOR CHOOSING SAKHO!
