no faultless results for the Blues, hanging in Greece

Antoine Griezmann and the Blues hanging in Greece. ANGELOS TZORTZINIS / AFP

Didier Deschamps’ players had to settle for a draw in Greece this Tuesday, in order to complete the Euro 2024 qualifiers.

Greece-France 2-2
Greece : Bakasetas (56th), Ioannidis (61th)
France : Colonel Muani (42nd), Fofana (74th)

No “Grand Slam” for the Blues! Already qualified for Euro 2024 and assured of finishing in its group, the France team concluded the qualifiers with a draw conceded in Greece (2-2). A (slight) disappointment for the vice-world champions, opposed this Tuesday to a tough opponent. Much more than the very modest Gibraltar team, swept away on Saturday in Nice (14-0).

Griezmann delights, Kolo Muani ensures

As planned, Didier Deschamps took advantage of this non-challenging meeting to carry out a broad squad review. After the correction inflicted on Gibraltar, only three players made a second start. And among this trio, Griezmann quickly stood out. The Atlético player, promoted to captain in the absence of Mbappé, took the game into his own hands from the outset. Always as impeccable in his defensive withdrawals, and inspired in his transmissions. Omnipresent for his 84th consecutive match with the Blues, he nevertheless lacked success in the last gesture, on his attempts repelled by Vlachodimos (15th) and the post (33rd). Dominant if not exciting against a very compact Greek block, the French team finally made the difference at the end of the first period. Kolo Muani, well offset by Giroud in the area, was able to score his second goal for the Blues (0-1, 42nd). The first since the 2022 World Cup semi-final won against Morocco (2-0).

An air gap, then a jewel

Ahead at the break, the Blues seemed well on their way to securing an eighth and final victory in this qualifying phase. But the French experienced a gap as impressive as it was unexpected around the hour mark. Five hellish minutes which allowed Greece to turn everything around. At the end of a confused action, Bakasetas first equalized with a beautiful volley from the area (1-1, 56th). In the process, Ioannidis gave the advantage to the Hellenic selection, at the heart of a French defense that was far too spectatory (2-1, 61st). Unsolicited until then, Samba was unable to do anything about these two actions. Maignan’s replacement finally saw another usual understudy avoid the worst for the Blues. Fofana, very prominent in the middle, enhanced his performance by equalizing with a superb long-range shot (2-2, 74th). Often clumsy in this club exercise, the Monegasque confirmed this Tuesday that he was one of the big winners of this gathering.

Long live the Euro

Held in check by future play-off Greeks, the French team could have won by a stretch at the very end of the match, thanks to their luxury replacements. Confusingly, Coman almost caused a CSC from Konstantelias (90th) while Mbappé, closely monitored, hit the bar in the last seconds (90th + 5). The decision did not come, but the Blues had done the essential thing well before this final meeting in these qualifiers. With a record of seven wins and one draw (twenty-seven goals scored, three conceded), Didier Deschamps’ squad passed this qualifying phase with flying colors. Authors of a year 2023 as successful as it is promising, the Blues will meet again next March, in order to prepare for the Euro scheduled for June in Germany.