After a catastrophic match in Turkey, les Bleus can leave for vacation content: they took revenge on Tuesday in Andorra (4-0), and retain the first place in the group.
Slapped in Turkey, les Bleus took revenge on Tuesday against Andorra (4-0) with a team largely reworked. The world champions go on holiday with a smile and the first place of qualifying at the Euro 2020, tied with Turkey and Iceland.
“The group reacted well to end this year long, tiring, weary. To finish with this victory is always something positive, “savoured Didier Deschamps.
Game changer
The contrast was striking between the overheated atmosphere of the Konya stadium and the freshness (5 ° C) of the small stadium of Andorra la Vella, its three stands of 3300 seats overlooked by buildings and the Pyrenees.
The level of play of the Blues also had changed, and fortunately for the coach who has maintained in his starting lineup only four survivors of the disaster of Konya (defeat 2-0 Saturday): Hugo Lloris, Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappé.
Experimental defence
This big mess-all resulted in the setting up of a totally experimental defensive line with Leo Dubois, Clément Lenglet and Kurt Zouma, holders for the first time in the selection.
BUUUUT pour l’@equipedefrance ! Magnifique balle piquée de @KMbappe 🔥 !
AND 0⃣-1⃣ FRA#ANDFRA pic.twitter.com/TPxF3jYiH0— M6 (@M6) 11 June 2019
Wissam Ben Yedder also had his first Marseillaise since the synthetic grass of Andorra la Vella, city of the Pyrenees perched at 1000m altitude, halfway between Barcelona and Toulouse.
Et c’est finalement Ben Yeder qui inscrit le deuxième but de l’@equipedefrance 😍 !!
AND 0⃣-2⃣FRA#ANDFRA pic.twitter.com/L7VOW2k3Gv— M6 (@M6) 11 June 2019
100th goal for Mbappé
It was not planned in the program but the Sevilla striker benefited from Kinsgley Coman’s outrageous package, weakened by “muscular tension”. The winger of Bayern Munich is not polished, he had experienced such a mishap in March in Moldova.
Captain Lloris had called on his partners to be “sharp and efficient as soon as possible” to take cover and not let Andorra hope. They applied the instruction to the letter, in the wake of a found Pogba.
After half an hour of play, the French were already leading two goals. At half-time, they had three on the clock.
BUT ! Quelle bicyclette de Thauvin 😱 !!
AND 0⃣ – 3⃣ FRA !#ANDFRA pic.twitter.com/4FTTSjgYeX— M6 (@M6) 11 June 2019
The first goal came from a recovery of the hyper-active Tanguy Ndombele who served Griezmann. The Number 7 sent Mbappé in the depth that made his speed and technical vista speak by setting the goalkeeper a small pick for the opener (11th, 1-0).
Draft at Konya, the striker of Paris SG found legs and success against an opponent who had the face of the victim atonement for les Bleus: 134th world nation, the red lantern of the group with zero points, almost all amateur players.
This crazy statistics has scored in Andorra the 100th goal of his young career in all competitions (13 in selection, 87 club). And as the evening was beautiful for him, he offered on a plateau a centre to his friend Florian Thauvin, author of a nice return acrobatic just before the break (45 + 1, 3-0).
Thauvin reborn
The winger of OM (10 selections) has achieved one of his most successful performances under the tricolour tunic, he who had never scored before. Close to the double on a pass (55th) and a Mbappé corner (57th), it is he who serves Ben Yedder for the 2-0 (30th) of an indented pass applied.
Intense this season with Seville (18 goals in Liga), the pocket attacker (1.70m) has also opened his international counter on the night of his 4th selection. Above all, he struggled on the front of the attack and it has been seen: he especially vibrated the small net (5th), warmed the gloves of the goalkeeper (30th) and combined with Mbappé (43rd).
It is not against Andorra that wins his place among les Bleus, but Ben Yedder has shown in the eyes of Deschamps that he could be a serious alternative to Olivier Giroud, entered the game late (73rd).
As it was a premiere night, Zouma joined the party by scoring her first goal in the selection, close on corner (60 ‘).
Premier but pour Kurt Zouma en @equipedefrance !!
AND 0⃣-4⃣FRA#ANDFRA pic.twitter.com/kXGSBK6byE— M6 (@M6) 11 June 2019
“We did the job today. You have to stay on that mentality, “Pogba summed up.
The evening could not be better for the Blues: they came back to the top of Group H, equal points with Iceland (Turkish victory Tuesday) and Turkey, but with a better difference in goals. The holidays can begin.
