It’s back to Lille! (2-0)
Two changes at the break for the South African side, with the entries of Mosele and Mudaw, Lakay and Mokoena are out.
It’s the break in Lille, where the Blues put on a show! (2-0)
The Blues return to the locker room with a two-goal lead, after a perfectly controlled first period. Led by a Kylian Mbappé scorer of a little gem (23rd) and untenable, the France team caused the Bafana Bafana to suffer considerably. Served by Antoine Griezmann, double decisive passer, Olivier Giroud (33rd) scored his 48th goal with the tricolor jersey.
Additional time
An additional minute is announced.
Elusive Mbappe!! (2-0)
What an overpowering acceleration of the French striker from the center line, who leaves his defender on the spot before arming a dry shot from the right. Williams captures in two stages!
France still supports
The Tricolores are still pushing a few minutes before the break, this time with Rabiot who does not give Williams a second of respite, with a long shot that is not easy to negotiate.
State
It has now been 20 consecutive games that Deschamps’ men have scored at least once per game (45 goals in all). This is the longest series in its history. The last meeting where the Blues remained silent dates from November 11, 2020 (0-2 against Finland in a friendly).
Digne’s firecracker! (2-0)
Griezmann shifts Mbappé to his left, who is waiting for Digne’s call next to him to serve him. Eccentric, the left piston arms a heavy strike that Williams captures as best he can!
Clauss makes a good impression
The right piston does not ask the slightest question and triggers a very nice volley without control on this high ball. The Lensois is very voluntary, and does not seem more impressed than that.
State
With this 48th goal in Blue, Giroud is getting a little closer to the ultimate record holder, Thierry Henry (51).
AND GIROUUUUUD !!! (2-0)
The Blues take the break in stride with a new very nice goal! Mbappé heels for Griezmann in the axis, who presses his high pass towards Giroud. In the surface, this one connects a superb control, a fixation of two defenders and an unstoppable cross strike at ground level!!
Giroud in the same exercise
The Bafana Bafana try a few rare offensives, but discover themselves behind where the French are immediately threatening. The center of Mbappé is taken from the head by Giroud, who takes over.
Mbappe’s head
It is with the head this time that Mbappé tries, on yet another cross from Digne, omnipresent on the left. The French striker does not catch the frame.
Very clean Blues behind
Very safe and very clean ball exit from the Blues in defense. Whether it’s Kimpembe, Maignan or Rabiot in the tricolor area, we don’t panic.
State
This is Mbappé’s 25th goal for the France team. And what a goal! The Blues are rewarded for their good first half hour.
THE GENIIIIIIE MBAPPEEEEEE!!! (1-0)
Queeel goal from Mbappé!! While we were talking about an inoffensive Griezmann, this one makes us lie by swallowing the space on the right, before centering towards Mbappé at the far post. From the entrance to the surface, this one rolls up a striking marvel in the opposite skylight, it’s SU-BLIME!!
Griezmann very discreet
Six small balls for Griezmann since the start of the match, after a good twenty minutes. It’s rare enough to be stressed. It’s hard to find the Madrid player between the lines.
Clauss more at ease
Clauss was largely accompanied by whistles at each of his ball catches. But little by little, the Lensois began to pocket the Lille public, who now encouraged his climbs to the right much more.
What a movement of the Blues, it goes very quickly
Oh, the Blues were on the verge of giving us a perfect collective movement on the left, with this combination between Digne, Griezmann and Mbappé. But Grizou’s pass is behind the back of the last city, who cannot take the ball away.
Mbappé makes the show! (0-0)
The French striker has fire in his legs! He eliminates an opponent from a small well-felt bridge before unleashing a floating shot from the right that goes a little too far to the right!
State
Second best scorer in the history of the Blues, Olivier Giroud (47) benefits from a new opportunity to get closer to the ultimate record holder, Thierry Henry (51).
Mbappé opens his foot too much
The Blues have easily passed through the sides for a few minutes, with an untenable Mbappé on the left. He is wanted by a new good cross from Digne, but the French striker opens his foot a little too much.
What a rascal this Lakay!
Kimpembe was taken on the wrong foot by Lakay and fouls 40 meters from his goal. On the free kick that follows, this same Lakay pretends to center and prefers to hit directly, Maignan is not fooled.
Giroud very close to opening the score!! (0-0)
It is already there, the huge first opportunity for the Blues! With Giroud falling from a center towards the dangerous area of Digne. The number 9 tricolor springs to resume under the bar, but Williams makes a huge save !!
The Blues revolve around the opposing block
The Bafana Bafana slide well and urge the Blues with envy, who have control of the ball but have not yet managed to find those in front.
Maignan already vigilant
Loss of ball from Kanté in the middle which allows the first South African attack on the left. Foster searches for Hlongwane towards the surface but Maignan comes out quickly.
Let’s go to Lille! (0-0)
It is the Bafana Bafana who kick off this international friendly match!
State
France remains on 19 matches without defeats (13 wins, 6 draws), its best series since the period 2010-12. She could also line up a seventh consecutive victory, which has not happened to her since March 2003-February 2004 (14 successes in a row, historic record).
Kick-off is imminent!
The players make their entrance on the lawn of Lille, in front of nearly 50,000 spectators and accompanied by the referee of the meeting, the Swiss Sandro Scharer. The hymns will ring out!
What is South Africa worth?
Since its last match against the Blues at the 2010 World Cup, South Africa has been in full reconstruction and has not participated in a major tournament since CAN 2019, where it reached the quarter-finals. Hugo Broos’ players remain on a 0-0 draw against Guinea in a friendly. Of the 23 players summoned for this gathering, 18 play in the national championship, four are abroad and Siyandu Xulu is even without a club.
The World Cup group stage draw is Friday!
If the Blues are reunited until Tuesday evening, they will know their opponents for the group stage of the World Cup on Friday, during the draw organized in Doha. Top seeds, the reigning world champions can expect to catch some big fish.
>> How will the draw for the group stage take place?
A meeting not to be overused
The Blues are turning to an appointment which is not necessarily the most anticipated of the year, but which is nonetheless important for the men of Didier Deschamps, who will no longer have the opportunity to play friendly meetings before the World Cup, League of Nations requires. Like the Ivorians, the Bafana Bafana are not qualified for the next World Cup.
The Blues in running order
After a snatch victory against Côte d’Ivoire on Friday in Marseille (2-1), the French chained a second friendly to continue their preparation for the World Cup in Qatar. They find South Africa, the 68th nation in the world. This test against these Bafana Bafana will necessarily be interesting to follow, less than eight months from the 2022 World Cup.
The portrait of Clauss resettled in Lille
Near the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille, a portrait representing Jonathan Clauss, the right side of Lens was tagged overnight from Monday to Tuesday. The portrait was finally reinstalled on Tuesday.
South African dance
The South African players entered the locker room of the Pierre-Mauroy stadium to music and dancing.
The official compositions have fallen
The changes announced earlier today by RMC Sport are confirmed. Jonathan Clauss will experience his first tenure well, as will William Saliba. Forfeited against Côte d’Ivoire, Kylian Mbappé is better and regains his starting position in attack. For his return to Lille, Mike Maignan starts in the cages. Christopher Nkunku is a substitute.
>> All info
France: Maignan – Saliba, Varane, Kimpembe – Clauss, Kanté, Rabiot, Digne – Griezmann – Mbappé, Giroud.
South Africa: Williams – Mobbie, Xulu, Sibisi, L. Lakay – Mokoena, Mvala, Monare – F. Lakay, Foster, Hlongwane.
The probable composition of the Blues
If Olivier Giroud will start in attack, Didier Deschamps will make eight changes in his starting lineup compared to the one aligned against Côte d’Ivoire.
The eleven tricolor against South Africa: Maignan – Clauss, Saliba, Varane, Kimpembe, Digne – Rabiot, Kanté – Griezmann – Mbappé, Giroud.
Giroud preferred to Nkunku
Called up by Didier Deschamps after Karim Benzema’s package, Olivier Giroud will start a second consecutive match with the Blues.
The 35-year-old veteran was preferred to Christopher Nkunku to start the game in attack. The AC Milan striker will be associated with Kylian Mbappé.
The reunion after Knysna
The France team finds this Tuesday an opponent that it knows well but that it has not faced since 2010.
South Africa remains sadly associated with the Blues disaster in Knysna during the 2010 World Cup.
Good morning all !
Follow from 9:15 p.m. the friendly match between the France team and South Africa live with commentary on the RMC Sport website and app.
Victorious over Côte d’Ivoire (2-1) in their first match of March, the Blues will try to sign another convincing victory against Bafana Bafana.