Maignan and Pavard prevent the Blues from falling into the trap

Special Envoy to Dublin

Scenes anything but insignificant at the final whistle with the Blues, behind their captain Kylian Mbappé, coming to greet the 2,900 supporters who made the trip to the hell of Dublin on Monday evening. Between relief, joy and feeling of duty accomplished after the success against Ireland (0-1), in an undecided meeting, the French know well that they came out alive from a big battle and an intense fight. With two victories in as many games, the start of a new era is proving idyllic for the French team and there are many grounds for hope.

Jostled, these Blues have character

If everyone is aware that the Blues will not demonstrate at each of their outings, the Dublin meeting has therefore kept all its promises. Failing to produce spectacle and an attractive game like against the Netherlands three days earlier (4-0), you also have to sometimes know how to impose yourself small without being ultra-dominant. In the fury of a grandiose Aviva Stadium with an Irish people to give you chills, the men of Didier Deschamps, who had made three changes to concern his entire group (Giroud, Camavinga, Pavard for Coman, Tchouaméni, Koundé) by compared to Friday, were able to extricate themselves from the Dublin trap. If the first act was close to boring in terms of the game with little celebration to silence the din of the evening, apart from a goal opportunity from Randal Kolo Muani after an offering from Dayot Upamecano (8th) and Borrowed and far too predictable vice-world champions, the French have shown character and collective strength. A sacred test validated for this Mbappé generation, which also needed to know its resources in a hostile context.

Read alsoThe notes of the Blues after Ireland-France: Impassable Maignan, the lightning of Pavard

Pavard, the ghost comes out of the closet

In a match that was not necessarily well controlled, the general impression left something to be desired… Moment chosen by Benjamin Pavard to get out of his box. Holder for the first time since November 22 and his shelving of seven consecutive matches after his start to the World Cup, the Munich resident responded in the most beautiful way on Monday evening, in the boiler of the Aviva. On a bad pass from Rabiot and after an error of appreciation from the Irish, the one-night side snatched away before opening the scoring with a clear shot that lodged under the bar (0-1, 48th) .

A magnificent goal, his third in 48 caps, which is reminiscent of his jewel of the 2018 World Cup against Argentina or his whipped volley against Sweden in November 2020. In other words, every time he marks, the native of Maubeuge does it with beauty. To see his rage when celebrating his little candy with his teammates, with an ecstatic Didier Deschamps on the sidelines, the hero of 2018 suffered from his downgrading, but had the strength of character not to let go. With a goal that had the merit of relieving and offering success to the Blues. Essential.

Maignan, worthy successor to Lloris

Deschamps’ men can also say thank you to Mike Maignan. Reduced to technical unemployment for a good part of the meeting, the successor to Hugo Lloris, already decisive last Friday with a penalty saved, once again showed all his talent. Four times at the end of the match, he single-handedly disgusted an entire country. When the tricolor building began to show signs of fatigue, the AC Milan goalkeeper pulled out all the stops (84th, 85th, 89th, 90th). With in particular a final firm and sumptuous parade. Anything but trivial if his partners came to congratulate him in stride, aware of having come very close to equalizing.

Here undoubtedly resides one of the symbols of this international sequence after the two victories of Kylian Mbappé’s band. If the French team has lost executives who need no introduction (Lloris, Varane, Mandanda, Benzema), it can also count on elements with assumed ambition and certain talent. Maignan is one of them. Like many others. The road to the Euro is already clear. And after the World Cup digested. The new era could not have started better.