At the Stade de France,
We had almost forgotten it with the mountain of extra-sporting affairs released in the press in recent days, but the France team was playing Thursday evening at the Stade de France. An insignificant match against Austria in the League of Nations, except that it was the penultimate before the World Cup, and the last at home. A meeting that the Stade de France public would not have missed for anything in the world, any more than the Blues, who quietly won against the Austrians (2-0). A success that brings the French out of the relegation zone, pending the decisive match in Denmark on Sunday evening.
Still more injuries
Missing, DD’s cat is asked to return as soon as possible. Or at least to go for a walk on the side of the infirmary to transfer all the beautiful people who pile up there. Hit in the hamstrings, Jules Koundé joined the ranks of the injured French team in the 23rd minute. Without much immediate consequence: William Saliba replaced him to play 50 meters from the cages of Mike Maignan, then Alphonse Areola. Medical choice, again. The AC Milan goalkeeper felt a little discomfort at the break. At the moment, Les Bleus is a bit of a reality show. In the end, only one will remain.
Olivier Giroud, like a good wine
What to remember from this match when half of the squad is out of service and the opponent is as unexciting as “Rex, dog cop”? That Olivier Giroud is aging well – he is even the oldest goalscorer in EDF history – and that it would be a shame not to take him to Qatar. Still a scorer (from the head, in the 65th), the French striker never needs much to improve the balls he touches, as on his one-two with Kylian Mbappé (26th), not far from finish as the opener for the Parisian.
Kyky will wash away the affront by paying the Austrian defense in the second half, a goal to make you lift an entire stadium. Note that despite the score, the lack of realism is one of the few things that can be blamed on the Blues, often defeated by Patrick Pentz. 22 shots, six on target, two goals. Can and must do better.
The Blues are better
Several merits to this victory. The Blues stop a series of four games without a win and confirm that the worrying performances of the summer were due to fatigue. In terms of numbers, France climbed to 3rd place in their League of Nations group and saw the threat of relegation recede. Not that the competition really interests us, but League A has the merit of offering us high-level friendly matches. The next of which will be against Denmark, which the Blues will find in Qatar. Another pair of sleeves.