Reports of a supposed "bust-up" between France team-mates Bradley Barcola and Rayan Cherki appear to be wide of the mark. Zinedine Zidane's side suffered a surprise 3-1 defeat away to Italy on Thursday.
Les Bleus took the lead in Milan through Michael Olise, only to be beaten thanks to a Pio Esposito brace and a Davide Frattesi effort. It was their first defeat under their new boss and leaves them needing a result against Turkey to make the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals.
Heated Exchange on the Pitch
Moments after Esposito drew the hosts level, Liverpool winger Barcola and Manchester City star Cherki were seen in a heated exchange. According to RMC Sport, an on-field misunderstanding between the pair was to blame, though talk of a full-on bust-up seems to have been blown out of proportion.
The same report claimed Cherki was noticeably angry after exiting the France dressing room after the game, though it seems it was more a case of annoyance at the defeat than with a specific team-mate. Right-back Malo Gusto, who was beaten easily in the build-up to the equaliser, was another who reportedly failed to hide his frustrations.
What the Report Actually Said
Some outlets have subsequently reported that Cherki stormed out of the dressing room after a bust-up with Barcola, but the original RMC Sport report didn't suggest as such. It read: "Heads down as they left the locker room, a very affected Malo Gusto, marked by his poor performance, an angry Rayan Cherki with a dark look, in line with some tensions that appeared on the pitch, notably a misunderstanding between him and Bradley Barcola at the end of the first half, when the match had started to turn around, after the Italian equaliser."
All is not lost for France, despite the defeat. A point against Turkey would see them through to next year's quarters and they could even progress with a defeat if Italy beat Belgium in the group's other game on Sunday.
Players' Form Under Zidane
Barcola impressed for France at the World Cup, scoring three goals and convincing Liverpool to break the bank and bring him to Anfield. However, he has yet to find the net in five outings - three of them starts - under new boss Zidane.
It has been a different story for Cherki. The 23-year-old was a peripheral figure in North America over the summer but already has a goal and two assists since.
"We didn't lack courage, on the contrary, we were in the game," Zidane said after the defeat in Italy. "But, defensively, we weren't as good. Without the ball, it wasn't enough. We crumbled after the break, we lost our composure, but that's part of the learning process. We'll analyse it. We'll focus on winning back possession. That's one of the things we need to work on. We all defended less well, but we'll continue with our playing principles."
