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France meets Spain after a mad comeback

The French players celebrate the final 2-3. / FRANCK FIFE / AFP

Nations league

The Deschamps team raised the 2-0 with which Belgium went to rest in a frantic second half and will challenge La Roja in a final with capital letters

Óscar Bellot

ÓSCAR BELLOT Special Envoy to Turin

Thursday, October 7, 2021, 11:30 p.m.

France is into rock’n roll. The ‘bleus’ had to find themselves against the ropes to correct the erratic approach that their coach made from the beginning in a frenzied second half that ended again with Belgium regretting another opportunity lost by their golden generation. Theo Hernández’s goal on the horn knocked down the ‘red devils’ and agreed to the appointment of France with Spain in a final of the League of Nations that is shaping up to be exciting.

The stinging Milan winger, who grew up at Atlético, matured at Alavés and failed at Real Madrid before taking flight as a ‘rossonero’, fastened a triumph that seemed like a chimera when the world champion in Russia left head down to the booth after seeing how Belgium put land in the middle with two goals in the final stretch of the first period. But Deschamps corrected on the fly and his pupils pulled race.

Benzema pointed the way with a mark of the house. Mbappé enlightened him by redeeming himself from the penalty spot of that maximum penalty that marred against Switzerland in the European Championship. And Theo crossed the goal with his arms raised after a football Tourmalet when the crash seemed paid to overtime.

Theo had already made the news when the eleven met, because he and Lucas became the first pair of brothers who wore the elastic of the French team at the same time since Hervé and Patrick Revelli did it in the seventies of last century. The milanista had just turned 24 on Wednesday and Deschamps gave him a good gift. He more than paid for it.

2
Belgium

Courtois, Alderweireld, Denayer, Vertonghen, Castagne (Batshuayi, min. 92), Witsel, Tielemans (Vanaken, min. 70), Carrasco, Eden Hazard (Trossard, min. 74), Lukaku y De Bruyne.

3
France

Lloris, Koundé, Varane, Lucas Hernández, Pavard (Dubois, min. 92), Rabiot (Tchouameni, min. 75), Pogba, Theo Hernández, Griezmann, Benzema (Veretout, min. 96) and Mbappé.

  • Goals:
    1-0: min. 36, Carrasco. 2-0: min. 40, Lukaku. 2-1: min. 62, Benzema. 2-2: min. 68, Mbappé, penalty. 2-3: min. 90, Theo Hernández.

  • Referee:
    Daniel Siebert (Germany). He admonished Vertonghen.

  • Incidents:
    Match corresponding to the second semi-final of the Nations League, played at Juventus Stadium.

Because Belgium seemed to have resolved the duel just before the break. And part of the responsibility must be attributed to Deschamps, who failed in the approach, with a defense of three centrals that needed to adjust more and a forward that did not come into play because the proposal consisted more in avoiding errors than in going to hurt Belgium. It was seen as soon as the game started, with a Lukaku cross from the right and a shot from De Bruyne that forced Lloris to pull out a miraculous hand. On the other side, Griezmann officiated as hitch, a position that a priori benefits him, but Mbappé and Benzema were unassisted because France was more pending to close spaces than to build the class of its stars as required. As it was, Courtois was a mere spectator in the first half.

Quite the opposite of Lloris, who faced a stormy night, despite the fact that Deschamps had sheltered him with two very dense layers by closing with five defenders and planting a second line in which Griezmann added his usual sacrifice in quartermaster work to Pogba’s muscle and the discipline of Rabiot. But Carrasco made the wall jump by pulling a rabbit out of his hat. The Atlético footballer, a lane player for some time in Belgium, cut down the left and surprised Lloris on the back foot hitting with his right hand.

Hazard, never ending and again limping

The blow left France sounded, who soon returned to kiss the canvas. This time De Bruyne filtered to Lukaku, who turned before Lucas Hernández and passed Lloris with a whip almost without angle that burst the mesh.

From agony to ecstasy

France advanced lines in the second half and finally took advantage of their forwards. Griezmann had already warned that passing through the booth had brought about an amendment purpose. But it was Benzema who resurrected a lawsuit that seemed to have a verdict turning on a tile before surpassing Courtois with a hit as accurate as Real Madrid’s ‘9’ is used to.

The thirty-second goal of the Lyonnaise with his team, and the fifth since he won the pardon of Deschamps, spurred the ‘bleus’, who smelled blood and went straight to the jugular of Belgium. Tielemans put him on a tray with a penalty in an action against Griezmann that Mbappé asked to shoot. The Bondy prodigy was turning 50 for his national team and did not blink before adding another notch to his revolver.

Belgium was seeing ghosts everywhere again. It is not weird. This golden generation has stayed with honey on their lips too many times and the physique was already taking its toll. More than anyone else to Hazard, who left limping and with the face of few friends without completing another meeting again. France was on fire and Courtois had to grow to avoid the collapse of his teammates.

Belgium had no choice but to entrust itself to Lukaku, a beast that does not understand tiredness. The Chelsea striker scored, but offside. Back to start again. Pogba crashed a direct free against the crossbar. The pulse was wonderful. And there was still the cherry on top. Theo put it, who gave himself a great goal to celebrate his 24 years. A glorious anniversary before facing Spain. He does not go anymore.

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