“If we do the calculations, 3 + 3 it’s 6. It’s very good. Manu Koné is pragmatic, like the coach Didier Deschamps who allowed himself a bit of irony at the microphone of TF1 after the second victory of the French team in as many qualifying matches at the 2026 World Cup, this Tuesday against Iceland (2-1). “It’s normal. Everyone will find it normal that we are first with six points. We did it, we couldn’t do more … ”Indeed, they couldn’t do more.
Faced with their two most “big” opponents in group D, the Blues did the job by making a full box despite the wounded (Dembélé, Goué) and the thorny Icelandic low block. He sometimes missed a little magic, of inspiration too, like the poor match of Michael Olise, but the main one is acquired for the French team which already has a good foot in the United States.
“I expected to have athletic respondent from Icelanders. I expected in the very low block. Being led by the mere error that one made was not simple, analyzes the national coach. We had to make the effort at the end of the match but we have the players to hurt on such a dense block. »»
Great satisfaction of the evening, credited with a 7.5/10 in our columns, Captain Kylian Mbappé, a decisive scorer and passer, showed his best face. Author on penalty of his 52nd goal in the French team, one more than Thierry Henry, the Real Madrid striker found his good old habits at the Parc des Princes.
“Each victory brings us closer to the truth and the World Cup. We will see what we will do in October, it will be different in Iceland. We are very happy as a team to have won this match. On the accounting level, it is perfect, “he said on the first channel.
A group is built
In qualifying matches to a big competition (Euro or World Cup), the Blues of Deschamps never disappoint: no defeat on the last 25 games (20 V, 5 N), that is to say since a defeat in Turkey in June 2019. In other words, an eternity!
The expulsion of Aurélien Tchouameni at the 68th A, of course, made the end of the game more difficult, but the vice-champions of the world did not crack, thanks it is true to a last intervention of the Var which came to prevent opposing equalization. “We got in trouble, but the most important thing is the 6 points at the end of this rally,” recalls Malo Gusto. Iceland was well in the second period, it was necessary to show character. We did it well tonight. It is important to create a soul between us within the group. »»
On this point, the staff will be able to find a lot of satisfaction. See you in October, now, to make a departure more cannon grow as Ukraine has not been able to beat Azerbaijan this Tuesday evening (1-1). In the ranking, the Blues have three units ahead of Iceland and five out of the other two. The “American” dream is no longer very far away …
