While Antoine Griezmann’s introduction gave France the edge in their World Cup last-16 tie against Nigeria, it left coach Didier Deschamps no closer to knowing his strongest attacking configuration.
With 28 minutes remaining in Monday’s game and the match goalless, Deschamps elected to send on Griezmann in place of Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud, and his impact was immediate.
The 23-year-old’s entrance allowed Karim Benzema to move into his preferred central role from the left and within minutes he had teed up the Real Madrid striker for a shot that Victor Moses had to hack off the line.
Benzema’s repositioning helped France gain a foothold in the final third and after weathering initial pressure, Nigeria finally cracked in the 79th minute when Paul Pogba headed in at a corner.
Griezmann then forced Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo to divert a Mathieu Valbuena cross into his own net in injury time, and Benzema was quick to express his gratitude for the Real Sociedad forward’s contribution.
“Griezmann added something when he came on,” said the France number 10 after his side’s 2-0 win at the Mane Garrincha National Stadium.
“We found more space behind their defence, whereas in the first half, we weren’t able to.”
Giroud had largely toiled in attack, despite several accomplished lay-offs, but his display was applauded both by Deschamps and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
“Olivier tapped, tapped, tapped against the defenders, and then the players who came on did the rest,” said the France captain.
While Benzema and Valbuena are effectively guaranteed starting berths in the French attack, Deschamps’s experiments with Griezmann and Giroud in the remaining role have so far yielded mixed results.
Deschamps echoed his players’ thoughts when asked if he regretted not starting Griezmann over Giroud.
“They have different profiles,” he said. “You don’t know and I don’t know if it would have worked if Griezmann had started the match. The match lasts 90 minutes.
“Olivier acted as a focal point, produced some useful lay-offs, and brought his strength in the air, both offensively and defensively.
“There were two options. I could have started as we finished, but the important thing is that it goes well at the end and it finishes well for us.”
Deschamps has a two very different forwards at his disposal, but with Friday’s quarter-final against Germany now looming into view, the composition of his attack remains a conundrum.
