Released by Benjamin Pavard and saved by Mike Maignan against Ireland (1-0), the French team emerged victorious on Monday March 28 from a bitter fight in the fervor of Dublin, a success which already clears up its road to l Euro 2024.
In front of the 50,000 excited spectators at the Aviva Stadium, the Blues turned their backs to win a second consecutive victory in these qualifiers, less convincing than against the Netherlands (4-0) on Friday, but it took fetch with other ingredients: heart and tripe.
“We were less radiant than Friday, but these are games that we have to win. Thanks to the spirit and the character of this group, we kept this goal in advance.Satisfied Didier Deschamps.
Three points ahead of Greece and the Netherlands
As a symbol, it is a man of the past and a man of the future who carried France towards this narrow success: the ghost Benjamin Pavard, architect of the coronation of 2018 downgraded four years later, and goalkeeper Mike Maignan, successor to Hugo Lloris.
The latter released two exceptional parades at the very end of the match, to maintain the advantage obtained by the Bavarian with a dry strike of which he has the secret (50th).
The accounting operation is perfect for the pragmatic coach Didier Deschamps: this laborious trip to the Republic of Ireland allows the Blues to escape at the top of their qualifying group, with three points ahead of Greece and the Netherlands , both winners of Gibraltar during this truce. The weak Mediterranean nation will be on France’s agenda at the next rally in June, as will Greece in Saint-Denis: two very accessible prey on the road to the Euro in Germany, from June 14 to July 14, 2024 .