Special envoy to Lyon
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Qualifying rankings for the 2022 World Cup
A full stadium, a fiery atmosphere and a French team in control… Pretty much we would have thought we were back a few months behind Tuesday night during the success of the Blues against Finland (2-0).
To the delight of the 57,000 spectators present at Groupama Stadium, happy to witness the reaction of pride from a collective criticized and logically criticized since the Euro wasted in great width.
We will know more on October 7 in Turin, with the (very) expected reunion against Belgium in the semifinals of the Nations League, on the ability of the world champions to start, but this victory has the merit of existing and to offer some respite to a group under pressure.
Blues found and seductive
After the two porridge offered in this September return (1-1 against Bosnia and Ukraine), the world champions have finally restarted the forward march against the 56th world nation, asphyxiated and without resources.
An important success for the heads of troops in the hard, feverish and a Didier Deschamps always looking for the right formula since the failure of the Euro.
And above all a victory which offers a boulevard for the World Cup in Qatar to a team from France easily at the top of its group.
The evening was perfect and the score does not reflect the total domination of a French collective finally consistent during an entire match.
The successful coaching of Deschamps
Apart from the first twenty delicate minutes and marked by fear, the Blues have only mastered their subject all the rest of the meeting.
Worn by a Benzema-Griezmann duo of the great evenings, in a game system with a three-way defense that the public had not seen again ... since the elimination against Switzerland at the Euro, the world champions have found the enthusiasm and desire to play together.
In team with sacred soloists and a great revelation in the person of the Milanese Théo Hernandez, twirling on his left side.
A player to review for sure.
As quickly as possible.
Griezmann-Benzema sign a recital
In his strong desire to put the best players in the best conditions, Didier Deschamps had a bit of a tendency to forget his key man of the last five seasons in the last matches. Replaced in the axis - in his preferential position - Antoine Griezmann has met all expectations, with Karim Benzema at his side, acclaimed like a god for his return to Lyon. The two men, very close on the pitch, have never ceased to carry the danger in the Finnish defense to offer a real recital. And were logically rewarded for the first time by a delicious exterior from Grizou's left, after a nice handover from the local hero (1-0, 25th). Then with the double (41st goal in 98 caps, up to Michel Platini) for the native of Macon (2-0, 53rd), following a magnificent work of theformer Lyonnais at the start of the action. The understanding between the two attackers, who have never ceased to be in the game, gives grounds for hope for the future. To turn (finally) at full speed next October with a certain Kylian Mbappé?
