We expected a reaction, we were entitled to a punishment. To a new disillusionment. Three days after its setback (0-2) in Austria during a qualifying match for Euro 2025 in the category, the French Espoirs team lost heavily (0-3), Monday in Le Havre ahead of 7,127 spectators, against South Korea’s under-23s.
A defeat, during their last outing in 2023, with no real consequences since it was a friendly meeting. But after the festival, the recital against Cyprus (9-0) in mid-October, this result is a new false note which is bad and worrying a few months before the Paris Games.
While this French team is full of numerous offensive talents within it, it has remained silent for the second time. However, Thierry Henry’s players dominated the match, multiplying the opportunities by the Parisian Bradley Barcola (27th, 52, 53rd), the Rennais Arnaud Kalimuendo (who hit the bar in the 45th) or even the Lensois Elye Wahi (73rd ). In vain. Opposite, the Koreans took advantage of defensive errors – and in particular from the young Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Reste (18), at fault on two goals, the last of which after a risky exit – to punish.
“We can’t afford to concede goals like that, the 2nd and 3rd are quite comical,” regrets Thierry Henry at the microphone of the L’Équipe Channel. There is no need to foul the free kick (on the first goal) and the last one does not need comment. In football you have to be realistic, when you create so many chances but you don’t take them, you leave the opportunity for the opposing team to punish you. Once again we offer these goals even if the free kick is beautiful, the others were avoidable, inexplicable. We learn… “
The nightmare evening for Guillaume Restes! The Toulouse player is at fault for the 3rd Korean goal.
France loses 3-0 against South Korea in a friendly match #FRACDS pic.twitter.com/xF26okN38k
— the L’Équipe channel (@lachainelequipe) November 20, 2023
“It’s a defeat that hurts us,” confirms Rayan Cherki. We were keen to make up for it. It’s disappointing both defensively and offensively, we’ll have to question ourselves. We have enough matches to avoid this kind of defeat and these goals. You have to play with more desire and aggressiveness to win matches. »
The Bleuets coach, however, noted a slight “better” compared to the defeat in Austria. “In terms of desire and fighting spirit we were better but the result was horrible. We created chances, that’s the most important thing, then we had one-on-ones, we shot the bar, what happened in Austria is much more worrying. You have to recover, get through the year. » A lesson to remember a few months before the Paris Games where France will be vying for a medal.
