Mbappé-Griezmann, a perfect evening to extinguish the controversies

At the Stade de France, the France team wandered (4-0) against the Netherlands as part of the first day of Group B qualifying for Euro 2024. Carried by their public, the vice- world champions were quick to make the difference against a Dutch team, to say the least, disappointing. Organized in a 4-3-3 formation with Kylian Mbappé, Randal Kolo Muani and Kingsley Coman on the front of the attack, Didier Deschamps’ men struck from the outset. Author of good pressing, Antoine Griezmann allowed his men to recover the leather in the high position before concluding with the left foot on a service from… Kylian Mbappé (1-0, 2nd). Enough to launch the locals perfectly and extinguish the emerging controversies around the status of captain with the Blues.

Antoine Griezmann (always) sees life in pink!

Tinted pink, although orphan of the armband – now worn by the Bondynois – the strong man of Atlético de Madrid has held his rank perfectly, like his last performances under the tricolor tunic. In all the good moves offensively, as evidenced by this precise free kick leading to the goal of Dayot Upamecano a few minutes later (8th), the French number 7, credited with a 7.5 by our editorial staff, has above all proved, if he still needed, his irreproachable state of mind. Not stingy with effort when it comes to defending, intelligent in his game orientations and technically correct, the native of Mâcon shone with his sense of teamwork and his dedication.

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France team: discomfort Antoine Griezmann swells

Often found by Kylian Mbappé, author of the third goal of the Blues on a magnificent service from Aurélien Tchouaméni (3-0, 21st), the boss of the Colchoneros quickly made people forget a possible cold with his attacking companion. Accomplices in the transmissions, in their best days around the opposing surface, the two men thus put themselves at the service of the collective. Armband or not, the former Blaugrana did everything and did everything well. For his part, Kylian Mbappé, rated 8 by all of our editorial staff and elected man of the match, confirmed that this new status would not impact his relationship with the France group. With a new decisive performance and author of a double despite some technical inaccuracies, the ex-Monegasque finally confirmed, on the ground, the remarks he made in the auditorium of the Stade de France, this Thursday, in edge of the meeting.

Kylian Mbappé, a first boss size outing!

“I spoke with Antoine, he was disappointed and it’s understandable, it’s a reaction that can be heard. I told him that I would have had the same reaction, he is perhaps the most important player of the Deschamps era. I am not his supervisor. We will be hand in hand him and I to try to make this French team reign at the world level. If he has something to say in front of the group, I sit down and listen. We must not close the door to anyone, everyone is free to express themselves. The first defender of this room for maneuver granted to the collective, the top scorer in the history of Paris Saint-Germain has therefore sent a first strong message as captain. And his partners did not fail to underline his very beautiful mentality.

Present in the mixed zone at the end of the meeting, Aurélien Tchouameni thus wanted to congratulate his teammate. “He was great from start to finish, he got his teammates to play, he scored goals, he defended, he helped us as he always does”. Praises also raised by Eduardo Camavinga: “His attitude has not changed, he is still the same, we are very happy that he scored this double. He scores all the time, it doesn’t surprise me anymore, but the most important thing is that he hasn’t changed, with or without an armband.”. Asked about The team channel at the final whistle, Didier Deschamps also welcomed his choice: “the armband is not going to change it. He gets involved, takes pleasure, he makes efforts, like everyone else, with the possibility of changing positions, compensation… He is the captain but he has already made matches of this type, with all of the group, he had this desire to play a very good match tonight and above all to win..

Ready to assume this leadership, Mbappé is above all aware that the great victories of tomorrow will go through perfect group cohesion, on and off the pitch. And if Didier Deschamps saw in him the perfect successor to Hugo Lloris, this first outing can only prove him right… Attractive for their first post-World Cup match, the Blues – who had no longer led by 3 goals so early in a meeting (20 minutes and 47 seconds) since December 17, 1953 against Luxembourg (10th minute, 8-0 in the end) – can indeed hope for a bright future alongside their new captain. It will now be necessary to confirm this first positive glimpse, Monday evening, at the Aviva Stadium, during the second day against Ireland.