France went into this game without Paul Pogba, Hugo Lloris, Benjamin Pavard, Samuel Umtiti and Kylian Mbappe, and all those changes killed any rhythm that France had built in their opening two games.
Thomas Lemar and Steven Nzonzi were playing their first games of the tournament, and they looked visibly off the pace, as France had nothing to show for moving forward.
The big change from France in midfield was the most significant, in terms of this game, as Nzonzi replaced Pogba.
Both aren’t similar kinds of players, and with the presence of N’Golo Kante, another defensive midfielder in Nzonzi might not have been necessary.
In the end, Deschamps will say he didn’t care, as France finished top of the group, but for the average World Cup watcher, his changes for this game – which are justified in the larger picture – killed any sort of spectacle that might have developed.