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The complete calendar of the Blues
Euro 2024: the qualifying calendar
Euro 2024: dates, place, draw
Mbappe captain flame
He was expected, he did not disappoint.
Better, he fulfilled his role in the standards he has imposed for six years now in the France team.
Dizzy.
With two goals to his credit, his 37th and 38th, which make him the fifth top scorer in the history of the Blues at just 24 years old, the new "capi" could not dream of such an idyllic evening to launch a new era.
The armband did not bother him for a moment, and in a perfect return to school, he was the expected leader.
Decisive, unifying and big brother for a boy like Kolo Muani.
Great art.
Read alsoThe notes of the Blues against the Netherlands: Mbappé inspired and inspiring captain, essential Griezmann
Maignan, Konaté, Upamecano: the Ministers of Defense
With them, no passing.
And when one "fails", like Upamecano, at fault on Depay's penalty, it is Maignan who takes care of doing the job by diverting the shot from the former Lyonnais (90th + 3).
As if to show, from the outset in the succession with Lloris, his appetite for this exercise.
With this trio, completed by the colossus Konaté, Didier Deschamps has plenty to see ahead and is undoubtedly holding his defensive trio for qualifying for Euro 2024, and of course the competition in Germany if the Blues maintain this tempo.
The Konaté-Upamecano duo know each other by heart after their common years in Leipzig, and it shows.
They are the delight of Liverpool and Bayern, but also of the selection since the World Cup.
With them at this level, the vice-world champions can rest easy.
The colossi are watching.
Read alsoWith a great Mbappé, the Blues launch their new adventure perfectly
Mike Maignan congratulated by his partners after his penalty saved GONZALO FUENTES / REUTERS
Read alsoThe World Cup, his ambitions for the French team, the evolution of football… The confidences of Adrien Rabiot
Griezmann, the essential anti-hero
Disappointed and thinking about his international future on Monday after learning of Deschamps' decision to give the armband to Mbappé, Griezmann responded in the best possible way on Friday evening.
An action alone sums up the panoply of the extraordinary player that he is.
Read alsoMbappé captain of the Blues: disappointed and touched, Griezmann thinks about his future in selection
2nd minute of play: tackle to recover the ball, Kolo Muani shifts towards Mbappé who finds… his vice-captain for the 1-0 with a clear shot.
A work of craftsmanship.
And a dream symbol for "DD".
Throughout the demonstration against the Batavians, "Grizou" shone.
Altruistic, decisive, available, he was everywhere.
The public at the Stade de France was not mistaken in giving him a standing ovation when he left (76th, replaced by Fofana).
Second tenure in Blue for Kolo Muani.
JB Autissier / PANORAMIC
Kolo Muani on his World Cup momentum
We left him on this missed opportunity at the very end of the match against Argentina, in the shoes of a luxury joker.
We found him in that of the starting center-forward in Blue.
Randal Kolo Muani seized the opportunity and made you want to see him again in this role, he who shone with his availability, his speed, his efforts.
Admittedly, the former Nantes player was a bit messy too, but his inspiration on Kylian Mbappé's first goal, when he cleverly lets the ball pass, is worth the detour.
He is also the penultimate pass on the first tricolor goal of the game.
Full and promising match.
Read alsoIn the footsteps of Kolo Muani, the unfortunate hero of the World Cup
SCRATCHES
The Netherlands totally overwhelmed
“
We had no chance (of winning).
Ronald Koeman had the merit of not beating around the bush in a post-match press conference in the passageways of the Stade de France.
Difficult to be otherwise in view of the catastrophic performance unveiled by his men.
The last quarter-finalist, beaten on penalties by Argentina in Qatar, was painful to see.
Ok, there were a lot of withdrawals due to an infection, but still … “
I did not expect such a difference,
argues Koeman.
It's not the team I had in mind to line up, but you know the circumstances (five players were affected by a viral infection, editor's note).
But I don't want to find excuses for this mediocre performance.
We should have been much more aggressive and made fewer mistakes.
There was nothing very positive today.
“One thing is certain: the Batavians do not have the Blues tank.
Read also "I did not expect such a difference" blows Koeman, after France - Netherlands
Batavian fans disrespected
In addition to the show on the pitch, the evening was also marked by various and varied tributes on Friday evening at the Stade de France.
In particular a beautiful and vibrant minute of applause in memory of Juste Fontaine, record holder of goals in the final phase of the World Cup and Claude Simonet, former president of the FFF, who died recently.
An initiative followed by all of the 77,000 spectators… apart from the Dutch supporters, who remained stoic and motionless.
Not knowing these two men is one thing, respecting the homage of the country which welcomes you and applauding is another.
A hateful behavior and unworthy of such a nation.
The former internationals during the Stade de France tribute.
FRANCK FIFE / AFP
Read alsoLloris, Varane, Mandanda, Matuidi (without Benzema)… The Stade de France honors the former Blues
Benzema deprived himself of a beautiful tribute
To see the smiles of Lloris, Mandanda, Varane and Matuidi, happy and moved after the tribute paid by the French public before the meeting, the evening was also idyllic on this point.
Cold with Didier Deschamps, Karim Benzema was conspicuous by his absence and above all deprived himself of communion with the supporters who would have welcomed him to his true worth on the lawn of Saint-Denis on Friday evening.
The Ballon d'Or 2022 did not deign to make the trip, apologizing by sending an email to the FFF.
His international retirement will reflect his career in blue.
Scrambled and unfinished.
The Blues lean too far to the left
The story of the glass half full or half empty.
With the Théo Hernandez / Kylian Mbappé tandem, the France team naturally leans to the left.
Especially since there is Adrien Rabiot in their area.
The left caviar.
On the right is dry bread and water.
Obviously, Jules Koundé does not have the same profile as the Milanese.
However, we were entitled to expect more and better from Kingsley Coman.
In the end, the danger came almost exclusively from the left on Friday.
Against a weak team from the Netherlands, it's fine.
Against a more fit opponent, it can be a problem...
