Special envoy to Marseilles
To discover
The complete calendar of the Blues
First match, first victory and first emotions for the French team in 2022. Not bad for a comeback against Côte d'Ivoire (2-1) in a Vélodrome stadium with spring sweetness and very happy to find the Blues six years after the volcanic semi-final of Euro 2016 against Germany.
If everything was not perfect, the band of Didier Deschamps gave a glimpse of some promise on the offensive level, the confirmation of Aurélien Tchouaméni - victorious scorer (90 + 2nd) - who is gaining more and more thickness and of an Olivier Giroud still as unsinkable with his 47th goal in selection.
Read alsoTops / Flops France-Côte d'Ivoire: Tchouaméni rewarded, Nkunku not inspired
Add to that the expected staff review with a first cape for the three neophytes (Nkunku, Saliba, Clauss), it is difficult to imagine a more positive balance sheet.
Let's be honest, it's not at this time of the year, with a rally between the championships and the European Cups, that you have to ask for mountains and wonders from the world champions.
The job has been done and the collective dynamic of nineteen matches without defeat continues.
Who says better ?
Giroud has succeeded in his "redemption mission"
Holder for the first time in a year with the Blues (the last dated back to March 24, 2021 against Ukraine) and especially back in the France group on Monday thanks to Karim Benzema's package after nine months in the closet after a Euro already in the shadows, Olivier Giroud succeeded in his "redemption mission" on the lawn of the Vélodrome and an audience won over to his cause.
Without too much surprise in the end, as this framework of the Blues, 35 years old and 111 selections, only very rarely disappoints.
It was he who put the world champions back in the right direction after Nicolas Pépé's fine goal (0-1, 19th) for the Ivorian opener following a multitude of errors of assessment from the French clan (Pogba, the Hernandez brothers, Lloris), heading in a perfect cross from Theo Hernandez (1-1,
Always good to take for the AC Milan striker in his quest to come and seek the record of Thierry Henry, top scorer in the history of the selection with 51 achievements, but especially in view of the ticket he wishes to obtain for the World Cup in Qatar (November 21-December 18).
In addition to his goal, he will also have confirmed his ability to play for others, with a technical agreement that has not aged with Griezmann (60 consecutive matches in selection, current series) in particular or a sense of sacrifice always precious on set pieces.
So many signs of a successful evening all along the line for “Olive”.
It remains to be seen now whether this will be enough in the eyes of a coach, who has the luxury, without Kylian Mbappé (preserved due to an ENT infection on Friday) and Karim Benzema, his two jewels, to be able to count on a soldier more than 'experimented.
In view of a World Cup without preparation for the players and matches every three days, the question of the presence of Giroud in the selection deserves to be asked…
Tchouameni's monstrous match
In the other lessons of a sweet evening with a Vélodrome stadium filled with more than 62,000 spectators, the Blues hinted at good offensive provisions, especially during the first act, with in particular Theo Hernandez and Kingsley Coman on the side of the famous "pistons" .
In this position, the Munich player has arguments to put forward, but in this 3-4-3 game system which also sometimes accepts imbalance, Hugo Lloris' partners have come close to corrections on several occasions (11th, 49th, 57th).
Let's not forget either the monstrous match of Aurélien Tchouaméni (22 years old, 8 caps) in midfield, symbol of an endless reservoir of Deschamps in the midfield.
Provisions that require confirmation, with other elements, workforce review requires, Tuesday against South Africa in Lille.