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Nations League: schedule and results
Mbappé, a foolproof mind
What a week for Kylian Mbappé. He had started on a media level by answering questions about his future at PSG and had put a lot of pressure. But these requests had no effect on his game. Quite the contrary. After being a scorer and decisive passer against Belgium, the French striker repeated this performance in the final. Passer for Benzema, on the 1-1, he then turned into a scorer by showing composure, alone against Unai Simon (80th). The goal of the coronation after having spoiled a lot it is true (68th, 72nd, 89th). But history will remember that he was preponderant in this coronation in the League of Nations. As at the 2018 World Cup.
LiveBenzema and Mbappé offer the League of Nations to the Blues, Spain's strikers in the final
Benzema, the man who revived everything
When Spain opened the scoring, the France team was in dire straits.
Fortunately, Karim Benzema took matters into his own hands.
Two minutes after the Spanish goal, the Real striker beautifully wound up a strike that Simon touched without being able to prevent him from finishing in the back of the net.
A decisive goal that woke up the Blues, much sharper thereafter.
A true attacking leader, he was still the source of a lot of good situations.
Pogba-Tchouaméni: a first-rate performance
If the Blues resisted Spain and its 64% possession, they can greatly thank Paul Pogba and Aurélien Tchouaméni. The first named simply signed an incredible performance from start to finish. Omnipresent, it allowed the Blues to gain in aggressiveness thanks to its volume of play, its many recovered balls. He was not content to rake and launched some good actions thanks to his vision of the game. At his side, the beginner Tchouaméni (2nd start in this final) was also bluffing by never weakening throughout the game. party, showing itself to be present in combat in weak times.
Lloris, decisive saves at the right time
Technical unemployment for a good part of the match, Hugo Lloris responded at the right time.
If he could not help Oyarzabal's goal, he was invaluable at the end of the game when La Roja woke up with two vicious strikes from the same Oyarzabal (88th) and Pino (90th + 4).
Two decisive parades to conclude this final.
Flops
La Roja lacked punch in front
If Spain deprived the Blues of balloons and signed some good streaks, they lacked character at the end. Apart from Oyarzabal, scorer in the 64th minute, La Roja was not really impactful in the opponent's area. Surprised by Benzema's equalizing goal, the Spaniards took a long time to react and ended the final feeling helpless.
The French defense still in question
Everything was not perfect in this French team during this Final Four of the League of Nations.
As against Belgium, the Blues suffered against Spain with a lot of defensive wanderings.
In this 3-4-1-2 system, the French axis seemed in difficulty to relaunch well, the Kimpembe-Varane-Koundé trio multiplying bad transmissions.
Varane's injury exit did not help and his replacement Upamecano did not breathe serenity in the weak times crossed by the Blues.
The same goes for Pavard, uncomfortable covering his hallway.
Known for its strength in the past, the France team has really changed its face during this Final Four.