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Let's wait to see if it's a start of intoxication and a new crazy adventure for the French team, but the band of Didier Deschamps, after the failure of the Euro against Switzerland, had the merit of warding off fate and validating his ticket for the quarter-finals following his success against Poland (3-1) on Sunday evening.
Let's not fall into excess and superfluous superlatives as the Blues have not outrageously dominated their subject on the side of the Al-Thumama stadium, sometimes giving in to panic, clumsy gestures and imperfect control.
But before knowing which of England or Senegal will stand on the road to the defending champions next Saturday in the next round, let's not sulk our pleasure either.
The adventure goes on.
And all the dreams that accompany it have the merit of existing.
The needy but heckled Blues
Without being flamboyant, but with seriousness and a certain talent like the new record holder of goals in selection, Olivier Giroud, author of the opener, or even Kylian Mbappé perfect to double the bet and close the suspense for his 4th and 5th achievement in Qatar (top scorer in the World Cup), the France team was able to count on its individualities.
On the collective side, it was less brilliant, less well oiled and above all less attractive than during the first two outings against Australia (4-1) and Denmark (2-1).
Let's forget the defeat against Tunisia (1-0) on Wednesday - football porridge with a team of apprentice hairdressers - which could become a draw elsewhere if FIFA has a little bit of courage... But against an opponent aware of its limits, eager to bring the Blues on a false rhythm in order to prevent the French cavalry from gaining confidence, the French team had a glimpse of what awaited them in their quest for a third star.
The reduction in the score of Robert Lewandowski (3-1, 90 + 9) on a penalty withdrawn after a stoppage by Hugo Lloris, very happy to equal Lilian Thuram in the number of selections (142), did not change anything.
The ticket for the shifts had already been validated for a long time.
A genius named Mbappé
Afterwards, when you have the best player of this World Cup in your ranks, it makes your life easier.
Scorer of a double (74th, 90+1), with a fabulous second goal of control that came to stay in the skylight of a Wojciech Szczęsny, Kylian Mbappé, 23, has once again proven that at this level, all dreams were allowed for the Blues.
The whole world fears him.
The pressure around him is crazy.
And he loves it.
With five World Cup goals, the standards displayed are gargantuan.
Never look surprised, as Belmondo would say to Anconina in
Itinerary of a Spoiled Child…
Even at the height of a match that he had not flown over and a breather from Deschamps after a superfluous gesture then the absence of defensive withdrawal, the "French genius" made his talent speak.
Quick, next.
Sauveur Giroud, legendary Olivier
What about Olivier Giroud too?
His liberating goal could only come after a stormy start and a triple Polish opportunity (38th).
In the worst of the moments crossed by his people, heckled by the false rhythm of the 26th world selection, he got the French team out of the rut, also repelling the ghosts of Switzerland and the Euro who were knocking on the gate.
And allowed Didier Deschamps to blow a big blow after a disappointing and boring first act of his troops.
Quite a symbol if the 36-year-old Milanese (117 caps), not sure of playing the World Cup a month ago, then waited in the shoes of a substitute in Qatar before being an indisputable holder with the package de Benzema, made everyone agree with his opening of the score on an offering from Kylian Mbappé (1-0, 44th).
With this goal, France-Poland: Olivier Giroud's record goal on video for an adventure that began in November 2011, "Olive" even allowed himself the luxury of leaving a certain Thierry Henry in the rearview mirror to become the one and only top scorer in the history of the Blues.
Not bad for a boy whose resilience and abnegation are worn as a standard, a true symbol of meritocracy.
The story continues for the Blues and it is not clear where all this will lead us.
Until next Saturday already.
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