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A goal from Benjamin Pavard allowed France to win 1-0 on Monday in Ireland in qualifying for Euro-2024, to stay top of Group B after two games.
The goal came from Benjamin Pavard. The defender allowed France to win 1-0 on Monday March 27 in Ireland during the qualifications for Euro-2024. A victory that allows the Blues to retain the lead in Group B after two games.
After their big 4-0 victory against the Netherlands on Friday, the Blues had a lot more trouble against an ultra-defensive Ireland.
Pavard unblocked the situation in the 50th minute, for his first start since the World Cup-2022, where he lost his place after a failed match against Australia.
Relaunched by Didier Deschamps in Dublin, the downgraded defender Benjamin Pavard came out of his box to pierce the defensive curtain of the Irish (1-0) on Monday, and record his resurrection after being dismissed from the World Cup by the coach.
The 26-year-old Northerner was to begin to find the long, very long time on the French bench. But after seven games without playing, he was able to seize the outstretched hand of Deschamps and be decisive, if not brilliant in the game.
In the 50th minute, he popped up to intercept a pass from Josh Cullen, got the ball in good position and unleashed a dry shot which, after grazing an opponent’s back, landed beautifully on the lower part of the transverse before returning. Something to awaken the sweet memory of his magical volley against Argentina at the 2018 World Cup.
The net shook
The Blues needed this unexpected inspiration to finally make a difference in a game where they struggled to be dangerous. The net shook, on the right side, during the first shot on target of the match!
In the euphoria of his third international goal, the first since November 2020, Pavard rushed towards a corner post to celebrate his jewel of a long slide, before hitting his chest like a warrior.
The celebration had a strong taste of liberation for the Munich resident, cheered by nearly 3,000 French supporters massed in a corner of the Aviva Stadium.
Former coach of Deschamps, the No. 2 of the Blues suddenly slipped in the hierarchy of right backs after the first match of the World Cup in Qatar against Australia (4-1), which he started. Jules Koundé donned the starting clothes in Qatar, replaced by the novice Axel Disasi, axial training defender.
The coach had little taste for his performance against the Socceroos, and even less for the attitude of the 2018 world champion after. According to several media, Pavard refused the criticisms formulated by the staff against him, which ended up condemning him.
With AFP
