Again! Led, mistreated but never defeated. As against Italy last Friday (2-2), the Bleuets suffered for a long time against their German counterparts, this Tuesday evening in Valenciennes, before ringing in revolt and snatching a draw (2-2) during a friendly match. Their last in 2024 before a year 2025 marked by the European Football Championship in the category for which they are already qualified.
It is undoubtedly for this reason that Gérald Baticle had to deal with a group deprived of many usual executives, who remained in their respective clubs. The coach took the opportunity to test and try, notably with a new playing system with a defense of 3 central defenders.
“I am proud of this group,” assures Gérald Baticle at the microphone of the Chaine L’Équipe. It was built up late, piece by piece, with many new players. We set up different activities and there was great support. »
We must not arrive late at the Hainaut stadium. From the 4th minute, the Mannschaft surprised France with a lightning counterattack. Starting behind the French defense, Woltemade sped down the right lane before crossing for Beier who, on a check, destabilized Obed Nkambadio and saw the ball end up in the empty goal (0-1, 4th).
Deprived of many executives for these two friendly matches, and with 10 changes in the starting 11 compared to the match against Italy, the French team is struggling to keep up the pace against euphoric opponents who have not lost again a meeting since June 2023, a series of 12 consecutive meetings without defeat. The sanction falls after the rest. Ideally placed at the far post, Beier scores a double in the 50th minute (0-2).
Rayan Cherki untenable again
But like against Italy last Friday (led 0-2 then 2-2 in the end), Gérald Baticle's players waited until their backs were against the wall to react. This second German goal finally seems to free them. Shortly after the hour mark Mathys Tel converted a penalty with a flat right foot which caught Urbig on the wrong foot and helped revive hopes.
The Bleuets push, like an untenable Rayan Cherki, and force the Germans to defend. Doukouré is very close to equalizing but his header is not powerful enough to worry the German goalkeeper (82nd). Loum Tchaouna did not miss his chance and allowed France to equalize in added time (2-2, 90th + 3).
If these two friendly matches ended in a draw, the content was not for the coach. “We found this mental strength not to break down and come back at the end and we even have the feeling that we could have won,” said Baticle. It's full of lessons. It was the objective to gather as much information as possible about a group we were discovering. We had a mental and tactical reaction. We will insist on anchoring them and building on them. »
Same feeling for Parisian Désiré Doué. “We are happy, it was a complicated match, but we knew how to push until the end. We gave everything to get back to the score. It's a rather positive rally against teams that we can find during the European Championship next summer. » “We did the job but we have to be careful,” warns Mathys Tel. We know our areas for improvement to come back stronger. » Answer in 2025 with the Euro which will take place in Slovakia from June 11 to 28, 2025.
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