Nor there was color in the Stade de France. Or if. Two. The white and blue of Deschamps’ France, which begins a ‘new era’ with a landslide. Mbappé debuted the bracelet with a recital, Griezmann continues to maintain his excellent form and all the pieces fit in the first game of ‘Les Bleus’ on the way to Euro 2024. The disappointment of the Qatar 2022 penalty shootout against Argentina is left behind and the players who have left the national team (Lloris, Varane and Benzema) seem to have a replacement.
Mbappé recreates Ibra’s famous goal with Ajax sitting down rivals
The 90 minutes were a Gallic ride. The stadium was full and La Marseillaise was sung a cappella before and during the match. They were exultant. Griezmann and Mbappé quickly dispelled any absurd debate about whether the captaincy had created a schism in the French team… and they led a frightening France.
Griezmann maintained the excellent state of form that he has dragged on since the World Cup and it fits perfectly into the 4-3-3 that Deschamps proposes. A system that mutates to 4-2-3-1 in attack, when the Atlético de Madrid man takes the opportunity to drop down on the edge of the area. Thus came 1-0. A recovery from Antoine and a pass from Kylian to the inner balcony of the area, where Griezmann shot Cillessen.
Mbappé and Griezmann celebrate one of the goals.
Upamecano would increase the distance in a set-piece action that Griezmann himself bounced in the first instance. And Mbappé would sentence before the break after a pass from Tchouaméni that Kolo Muani masterfully lets through. They were able to get more but Koeman made a move and Cillessen prevented the disaster from being bigger before going to the changing rooms.
The second part, luckily for Koeman’s men, saw a France that took its foot off the accelerator. It was not until the final minutes when Mbappé wanted to consummate his work: double and ovation, the umpteenth, from the respectable. While he celebrated, Memphis looked at the ground. He didn’t get anything out. He even missed a penalty at 94 ‘against Maignan.
Netherlands, with many absences
The context was not easy for the Netherlands. Physical problems and a last-minute virus left Koeman ‘in the box’ for his relaunch with the ‘Oranje’: Botman, Gakpo, De Ligt, Veerman, Verbruggen, De Jong and Bergwijn were left off the list before the game… and the former Barcelona player had to improvise.
And although in the previous one he said that he expected a game where they had opportunities… that was not the case. The first goal came in the first minute of the game, and before half an hour the game was seen for judgment. France did not slacken and the Dutch were not up to it.
Koeman, in the match against France.
Mbappé raises the stands
If a gurgle spreads through the stands every time Mbappé touches the ball, it means that Mbappé has something. We will not discover gunpowder but the one of the one of Bondy in front of the Netherlands was a new show of force of the attacker of the PSG. Double, assistance and overflow in abundance.
With his double, moreover, there are already 20 goals in his last 17 games with France… and surpasses Benzema as fifth top scorer of ‘Les Bleus’: 38 goals. Ahead he now ‘only’ has Giroud (53 goals), Henry (51), Griezmann (42) and Platini (41).
