Ukraine’s (2nd) draw (1-1) at North Macedonia was the first good news of the day. The second came, much later, from Grenoble, where the France Espoirs team crushed Armenia (7-0) and consolidated its position as leader of Group H.
The Bleuets, guided by an ultra-determining Diop, with his two goals and three assists, now have three points ahead of the Ukrainians. The evening, perfect, was launched by a curled shot from Caqueret, who found the right top corner following a stint with Diop (1-0, 11th).
Cherki has fun with the Hopes
A magnificent goal to crown a very dynamic start, with Cherki at the helm. Alternately altruistic and soloist, OL’s attacking midfielder slipped into most of the dangerous actions of the first period. If he did not participate in the second goal, scored closely by Diop after Nersesyan had rejected a first strike from Kalimuendo (2-0, 27th), he scored the third from a direct free kick, punishing the failure of the opposing wall (3-0, 35th). His fourth goal in three caps with the Espoirs.
A logical gap at the break, given the immense domination of the Bleuets, inspired, playful and insatiable. Diop, jealous of Caqueret and Cherki, also cleaned the right window with a direct free kick from the right (4-0, 50th). The Monegasque then grafted a second decisive pass on his dazzling statistical record by shifting with a sublime heel Kalimuendo, author of a right strike in first intention (5-0, 58th).
The Lensois striker, with a gesture that is as opportunistic as it is subtle, also scored a double by taking from outside the right a blocked shot, with a bell trajectory (6-0, 70th). To conclude such a beautiful festival, The Fairy, served by … Diop, rose to the height of the evening by chaining a dribble and a powerful strike from the left (7-0, 82nd).
The Lorient player thus ended the very large French success, the third in a row after those against Ukraine (5-0) and Serbia (3-0). The pitiful draw conceded to the Faroe Islands (1-1) on September 6 has since been buried under an avalanche of goals.