the Blues in demonstration against the Netherlands

For their first match since the World Cup in Qatar, the Blues of Didier Deschamps largely won against the Netherlands (4-0).

By VD with AFP

For his first captaincy in selection, Kylian Mbappé offered himself a double.
© MOHAMMED BADRA / EPA

Published on 03/24/2023 at 10:56 p.m.

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L’The French football team largely dominated the Netherlands on Friday (4-0) for its entry into qualifying for Euro 2024 at the Stade de France, just over three months after the World Cup final lost in Qatar . Kylian Mbappé, for his first outing as captain, scored twice. Antoine Griezmann had previously opened the scoring from the 2^e minute before Dayot Upamecano widens the gap to the 8th^e minute. Mike Maignan, new goalkeeper n°1 after the retirement of Hugo Lloris, stopped a penalty late in the game.

The first dish was served from the second minute, by an altruistic Kylian Mbappé. The pass for Griezmann was precise, the Atlético Madrid player did not hesitate to convert it with his left foot. The playmaker with dyed pink hair then immediately turned to his new captain to go and enjoy this aperitif heralding a feast.

Double from Mbappé

As for Mbappé, he was quickly able to quench his thirst on a deep ball from Aurélien Tchouaméni, carefully avoided by Randal Kolo Muani, to align Jasper Cillessen at the near post (21^e). At the end of the match, he created a double on his own (88^e), offering a 38^e goal in Blue, one more than Karim Benzema. In the meantime, Griezmann had also been able to release his secret recipe, a well-brushed free kick and finally taken over victoriously by Dayot Upamecano (8^e), after a mess from Cillessen.

For the number 7 of the Blues, it is a rebirth. He who had accepted in Qatar a role of midfielder more worker than scorer, he who remained on an improbable drought of sixteen games without scoring in the France team, finally found the flavor of the nets which tremble. This 43^e goal in this jersey arrives on the evening of his 118^e selection – including 75 in a row without missing a single match! – and allows him to resume his march forward in third place in the scorers’ rankings, a table where Mbappé chases him at phenomenal speed.

A successful comeback

Three days after his 32^e birthday, Griezmann offers himself a nice consolation prize with this goal and this performance still just, in the wake of his sparkling World Cup. The native of Mâcon, who imagined receiving the armband after the international retirements of his glorious teammates, Lloris and Raphaël Varane, will he leave the disappointment behind him?

If there was the slightest concern, it was undoubtedly dissipated above Saint-Denis on this successful evening, where the two friends shone together, even if they will probably never be best friends. of the world. With the experience of Griezmann and the statistics of Mbappé, the Blues seem in any case well launched towards the Euro.