For a match imposed by UEFA and which no one cared about, starting with Didier Deschamps, we can say that the Blues ultimately came out of it with a lot of positive lessons. Because if the victory was acquired even before the kick-off against the 85th nation in the world, this success (3-0) obtained against Luxembourg, Wednesday, near Metz, allowed a certain number of players to reassure the populace on their state of physical and mental fitness, which is no small thing at the dawn of a new adventure that we hope will be victorious. We have chosen to highlight three very distinct cases.
- Mbappé, happiness is in the aftermath
We can think what we want about the press conference of the captain of the Blues on Tuesday, when he came to talk about a sort of malaise at PSG last season – the fault of the big bad Nasser Al-Khelaïfi – but let us at least grant the “Kyks” for having confirmed in action the verbal promises made to the press. The man is happy again, well in his head, like that big smile that never left him during the national anthems. And not too bad in his pumps either, as he showed throughout this meeting.
After a start that we would describe as nice, Mbappé gradually gained momentum, with some well-felt accelerations on the left, notably on this overflow and this diving cross at the origin of the opening score signed by Kolo Muani. Scorer for the 3-0, the New Madrilenian gave the sensation of being fully liberated after the few hectic days spent before the officialization of his transfer to Real.
Deschamps’ reaction: “He has been a tremendous leader from the start, since he arrived at Clairefontaine. Even if he had to do a long job because he wasn’t used to playing much lately, he was lacking a bit of juice. But he got it in his head that he was going to give everything, he did a lot of running and mobility. Like Antoine, they have been good examples all week. »
The 20 Minutes prediction: After a very strange second part of the season, sometimes put in the closet by Luis Enrique, sometimes mediocre when he played the important matches of PSG (hello the round trip against Dortmund in C1), Mbappé seems sincerely liberated and ready to give everything to Blues. And the way he spoke about Euro 2021 in conference the other day suggests that the boy has revenge to take in this competition. Yeah, frankly, we can see him breaking the house with the Blues this summer.
- Kolo Muani, day and night
Well, yet another unfortunate PSG! Author of a season that was not far from abominable with Paris, the striker comes back to life completely every time he wears the tricolor jersey. This was already the case during the previous gathering, with a benchmark match against Chile in Marseille. On Wednesday, against Luxembourg, Kolo Muani showed that he still had some aptitude for football, like his numerous dribbles and accelerations on the right side. He was also able to be present and effective in the area, with this headed goal when receiving a cross from Mbappé.
Kolo Muani’s reaction: “I am proud of my goal. We worked well during this match, we must continue this momentum. My success in Blue compared to PSG? It comes from the confidence of the coach and my playing time.”
The 20 Minutes prediction: First and foremost, we are very happy to see him having fun on a football field. For the rest, if he is promised a role as Dembélé’s understudy this summer, it is not forbidden as long as he continues on this momentum. Cajoled by DD, this boy can perhaps remind us of the “good” memories of his appearance in the World Cup final against Argentina.
- NG, as if nothing had changed
We’re not going to tell it by telling you that we watched the Saudi championship matches this season – no, the Saudi Pro League, honestly we’re guessing – and that we knew that Kanté was going to be up to the task. for his return to Blue. On the other hand, we could say that if Deschamps had called him back, it was because he knew the creature was capable of rising again to the international level. Which was certainly the case on Wednesday.
And it doesn’t matter that it’s Luxembourg opposite, even if we can’t wait to see them against a more solid team, “NG” delivered 60 very good minutes of play. Still starving for the balls in the middle of the field, the former Chelsea player did not hesitate to project himself forward and drive certain French offensives.
Deschamps’ reaction: “I manage him a little because he has had a lot of matches. But in every training here, the players prefer to have him with them than against them. Radiant? Yes, both athletically and in everything he does. And he’s more open today too, because he’s not someone who talked a lot before. »
The 20 Minutes prediction: “NG” is pleasure. It’s okay, stop everything, we’re European champions, it’s not even worth going to Germany. Jokes aside, the coach’s decision to recall him to Blue still looks like a great profitable choice. We will still have to see what he can do in the face of a little more difficult adversity, but in truth we have no doubt that the boy will be there this summer. As the coach said when announcing the list, and we take his word for it today, “the French team is stronger with NG than without him”.