the French Espoirs team takes on Italy thanks to a great Rayan Cherki

While waiting for the big deadline next summer, namely the Euro Espoirs which will take place in Slovakia (June 11 – June 28, 2025), the Bleuets are putting themselves to the test with a few prestigious matches. For this November gathering, Italy and Germany were chosen as preparation. The first of these two duels took place this afternoon in Empoli, and it ended with a lively draw (2-2), obtained with guts and above all a Rayan Cherki XXL, definitely launched this season . For the rest, there are no real conclusions to draw from this meeting, which is still experimental, as suggested by the system initially aligned by Gérald Baticle: a 3-5-2, which contrasts radically with the 4 -3-3 has become the formula favored by the coach during the last matches.

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It must be said, the former Angers coach had not been spared from the sores in recent days, suffering from the failures of Hugo Ekitike, Malo Gusto, Dilane Bakwa, and especially Enzo Millot, Maghnes Akliouche . The absence of the last two was also detrimental when it was necessary to invent something during the first hour. And the rare beams of light always came from the feet of scorer Rayan Cherki, who could even have opened the score from the start with a free kick if Desplanches had not pulled out all the stops on his flight (10th). For the rest, the Bleuets often struggled to dictate the game and impose a real physical and technical challenge on their opponents. They also conceded the opener of the score of the Chelsea player, Cesare Casadei, after a lack of vigilance by Agoumé, Magassa and Matsima, absent subscribers (16th, 1-0).

Rayan Cherki changed the game

The biggest French situation in the first period clearly reflected the Bleuets' inability to create anything, since it resulted from an Italian restart error on a cross from Sildillia. Tchaouna, recovering, then triggered a volley which smashed the crossbar (25th). A highlight with hints of unfinished business, without a goal, and which was punished just before the break. Still very permeable, the French defense opened the floodgates to Cristian Volpato, who embarked on a solo act before serving Ambrosino in front of the empty goal (44th, 2-0). The youngest member of this French team, Ayyoub Bouaddi (he was born in 2007), seemed to suffer the blow for his first, and personified this tricolor slump well.

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Returning from the locker room, Gnonto confirmed the general impression: that of a French defense adrift. He penetrated the area like butter but fortunately for Remains, his shot flew off target. In the continuation of the action, a ready goal was missing after a feat from Casadei on the side. This lack of realism announced the punishment since Cherki reduced the gap on a cross from Sildillia, absolutely alone (58th, 2-1). Very available and at the origin of all the situations of his team, the Lyonnais rubbed the lamp again to offer a sublime decisive pass to the incoming Atangana, clinical on his first ball (65th, 2-2). The entries of Kumbedi, Bonny, Doué, Atangana and Ouattara coincided with the Bleuets' highlight, and we were now closer to a 3-2 for France than for Italy. Doué, then Kumbedi on an exploit from Cherki, were close to scoring, but Zacchi, the second Italian goalkeeper entered at the break, pulled out all the stops until the end. We will have to rely on the state of mind displayed today to get the better of Germany next Tuesday.