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With two months to go before the 2022 World Cup, the France team regained its colors by winning its match against Austria (2-0) on Thursday night in the Nations League.
Two new physical failures, but finally a victory: the French team calmed down two months before the 2022 World Cup by dominating Austria (2-0) in Saint-Denis in the League of Nations, with a decisive duo Olivier Giroud – Kylian Mbappé .
Until the Parisian’s flash of genius in the 56th minute, the Blues’ evening would be summed up in two words: frustration and bad luck. The frustration of seeing so many wasted opportunities, the bad luck of two new injuries, those of Jules Koundé (hamstring) and Mike Maignan (calf), which filled an infirmary more than full.
But Mbappé had saved the best for last. Already a top scorer in the first leg (1-1) in Vienna after entering the game, the striker, who started on Thursday, freed the Blues from a dribble-fest that ended with a powerful shot into the middle of the Austrian cages.
All that was missing was to revive the Stade de France and unlock the tricolor game, quickly awarded by Olivier Giroud, top scorer after Antoine Griezmann’s pass (65th).
The descent slips away a bit
This victory will be good for Didier Deschamps and his men. Ends an almost black streak of four games without a win during the June rally (two draws, two losses). It allows the Blues (3rd, 5 pts) to surpass their rival of the afternoon (last, 4 pts) in the standings, although it will be necessary to secure Sunday in Denmark to avoid an unworthy relegation to the second division of this League of Nations. , including the French, are defending champions.
It also alleviates the climate that has engulfed the team for several weeks, between injuries, extra-sports issues (Pogba, ministerial audit in the Federation) and thorny negotiations over the collective image rights of internationals.
For the coach, it is also a tactical success, that of the five-defense system, back in Saint-Denis after being unsuccessfully sidelined in June.
The “DD” is also confirmed in the choice of men, because in the face of a dozen injuries it was not a foregone conclusion, for example, that Youssouf Fofana made such an authoritative first selection in midfield, along with his former teammate in the Monaco. , Aurélien Tchouaméni.
Giroud approaches Henry
It was also not said that Mbappé and Giroud would show such a great bond, in the absence of Karim Benzema. Their partnership could have provided even more goals had the Parisian not spoiled a magnificent brace with his teammate in the 26th minute, as well as a few other goals.
After stirring up the meeting with his demands for image rights, Mbappé still responded on the pitch with total involvement, entering the Blues’ top-10 scorers (28 goals) and even allowing himself a small heartfelt celebration, mimicking a camera…
For Giroud, with the future still uncertain at Azul while Deschamps is hesitant to call him up when Benzema is available, Thierry Henry’s goalscoring record continues to get closer.
Grenoblois, with 49 goals, is just two points behind. Will you have the opportunity to register them? This is one of the issues that will weigh on Deschamps in the coming weeks. The group of supporters of the France team, who was celebrating his 12th birthday, would not object to the idea of seeing one of their favorites again in Saint-Denis…
Two months after challenging Australia in Qatar to defend their title, Team France appears to have regained confidence. A victory on Sunday in Denmark in his last game against Doha would also bring him some certainties.
with AFP