The European press is amused by France’s presence in the quarter-finals of the Euro despite its inability to score in open play, as was the case again on Monday against Belgium (1-0) in the 8th finals of the Euro.
France is in the quarter-finals of the Euro and that surprises almost everyone. Virtually impregnable in defense, the Blues once again displayed their inability to score in open play despite twenty shots (compared to five Belgians), Monday during their victory against Belgium in the round of 16 (1-0). Deliverance came from a shot from Randal Kolo Muani deflected by Jan Vertonghen’s thigh (85th) at the very end of the match. A success that annoys as much as it seems to fascinate the European press.
“Dirty trick”
“Two own goals, a penalty, no goals from open play: France wins ugly again,” says the Times, an English daily. Other British media outlets have come to the same conclusion, such as Sky Sports, which saw the Blues “struggle”, or the Telegraph, for whom “the failed attack must thank the defense”. The tabloid The Sun goes for a more poetic “french fried” to announce the new Belgian defeat against the Blues, in reference to the famous “french fries”, these finely cut chips eaten in the United Kingdom.
In Italy, the Gazzetto dello Sport also noted the success of Didier Deschamps’ men: “France, zero goals in the game, two own goals and a penalty are enough for the quarter-finals”, the Italian newspaper asserts. In Germany, SportBild is amused by the goal of Kolo Muani, former Frankfurt player, and the victory of the Blues on this “dirty trick”. This allows Kylian Mbappé’s teammates to reach the quarter-finals of the competition against Portugal, Friday (9 p.m.). And that’s all that matters to Didier Deschamps. “Still tired, still there”, headlines L’Equipe.
“The only regret is the number of shots we had,” the coach analyzed after the match. “By trying to put too much power, it goes off target. But immense pride for what we did, to be in the quarter-finals again. And then I have Jules Koundé who you have been training for me for two years who is man of the match. Kolo, we don’t talk about him, he is a scorer, so everything is fine.”
