Luxembourg: match notes

Twelve days before its first Euro match against Austria, the France team began its preparation near Metz. And what could be better than facing your Luxembourgish neighbor to get your legs going. On this occasion, Didier Deschamps chose to field a rather classic eleven, with a few surprises. Starting with the tenure of the returning N’Golo Kanté. The Al-Ittihad player had not started a Blues match since June 2022. A choice not so surprising in the end. With Aurélien Tchouameni’s package for preparation and Eduardo Camavinga having just returned from Madrid, the opportunity was ideal to test the hero of 2018. Finally, DD also chose to give playing time to a ghostly Randal Kolo Muani during the end of the PSG season. As for the neo Merengue Kylian Mbappé, he was indeed present at the kick-off. He who said he was more liberated since the announcement of his future arrival at Real Madrid, Mbappé confirmed that he was in good shape.

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Incisive on his left side, the Bondynois sometimes swapped with Marcus Thuram. At the origin of the first two French goal actions (3rd, 5th), the captain of the Blues was also involved in Thuram’s strike (7th) and the post found by Antoine Griezmann (12th). Altruistic and sharp, Mbappé thought he would see all his efforts rewarded with a goal after a one-two with Griezmann. But that was without counting on Moris’s formidable save despite the Frenchman’s point-blank shot (26th). The reward finally came when the French number 10 became a decisive passer for Randal Kolo Muani. Very discreet until then, the Parisian striker burst with a header at the right time to give the Blues the advantage just before the break (1-0, 43rd). A first period marked by the seal of Mbappé, but during which N’Golo Kanté also reassured observers. Back in the selection after two years of absence, the French midfielder was everywhere. Positioned at low point, he masterfully managed the defensive withdrawals and displayed very good mobility.

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Mbappé omnipresent

Returning from the locker room, the French domination has logically not weakened. The Luxembourgers only fell back a little further, but the control of Didier Deschamps’ men struggled to be rewarded. The fault lies in big inaccuracies like these off-target shots from Mbappé (47th) and Fofana (56th). However, DD’s coaching move paid off. By choosing to replace Jules Koundé with Jonathan Clauss at half-time, the coach wanted to have a more offensive profile. And it paid off. On a two-handed corner played between Mbappé and Griezmann, Clauss was served on the edge of the area. Off-center on the left side, the right side of Olympique de Marseille then unleashed a magnificent strike which came to lodge under the crossbar of Moris (70th).

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2-0, the break was finally made, and in what way. The rest of the match saw Olivier Giroud celebrate his 132nd selection and become the oldest player (37 years and 249 days) to be selected in blue, while Bradley Barcola celebrated his first cap. A first that the Parisian celebrated with dignity by offering a decisive pass to Mbappé (3-0, 85th). A goal which precisely rewards the match of the Bondynois who remained in three consecutive matches in the selection without scoring. Before facing Canada in three days, France reassured itself a little.

Relive the match film

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Man of the match

– Kylian Mbappé (8): the neo-Madrilenian left us wanting more last March, he showed us a much better face in Metz. Very altruistic, he did not hesitate to serve as a relay for his teammates on the front of the French attack, like this delivery for Griezmann who then hit the post. Behind, the captain of the Blues multiplied the stalls while swapping with his compatriot from Inter Milan to sow trouble in the Luxembourg rearguard. Defeated by Moris despite a good recovery (25th), the Bondynois displayed his technical qualities to eliminate his opponent and serve on a plate Kolo Muani, author of the opening score. On a corner played two-way with Griezmann, he serves Clauss back for the Blues’ second goal. Rewarded for his entire work, he is the author of the third French goal following very good work from Barcola (85th).

France

– Maignan (5): established in the tricolor cage, the goalkeeper of the France team showed his presence in the first period. Watchful of a long shot triggered by Sinani (60th) in the second half, he however seemed beaten by Mahmutovic’s header which hit his crossbar (82nd).

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– Koundé (5): Unlike Lombard on the left flank, the Barcelona player did not really have the opportunity to express his offensive qualities due to a lack of complementarity with Kolo Muani. On the defensive level, the French right-back was simply correct and had the merit of being fair in his interventions. Replaced by Benjamin Pavard (63rd)rarely called upon by a Luxembourg team that is too weak offensively.

– Konaté (6): associated with Upamecano in the central hinge, the Liverpool defender did not need to do anything to calm the ardor of the opposing attackers, apart from perhaps blocking Rodrigues to then ward off the danger in a corner (22nd). We will highlight his great inspiration to serve Kolo Muani over the Luxembourg defense.

– Upamecano (5): solid on his supports and without throwing himself blindly, the Bavarian did not allow himself to be trapped on the first Luxembourg combination in the tricolor area (19th). Behind, his loss of the ball far from his bases could have harmed the Blues without a winning return from Konaté in front of Rodrigues. Hit in the left thigh, the Bavarian gave up his place at half-time William Saliba (5). Considered one of the best defenders in the Premier League, the Gunner was not put in difficulty, content to restart cleanly from his area.

– Théo Hernandez (6): stood out for his desire to combine very quickly with his offensive players, like his numerous combinations with Mbappé in the meantime. As usual, the AC Milan player showed great activity in his left lane given his incessant raids. And as a result, he is the Frenchman who touched the most balls in the first half. Replaced at rest by Jonathan Clauss (6). If the automatisms with Mbappé were lacking in the second half, the Marseillais nevertheless had the merit of being found on the right foot to place a sumptuous strike under the bar of Moris for his first goal in the selection (70th). A few minutes later, he is a little too short to catch a nice ball from Griezmann (77th).

– Kanté (6.5): Tchouaméni preserved, the Al-Ittihad player celebrated his comeback with the Blues, almost two years after his last appearance. If some have expressed serious doubts about his competitiveness, the Frenchman has partly dispelled them. Positioned at low point, the former Chelsea player was at ease in the midfield. Rather available between the lines, he never tried to do too much, content to find his partners at the feet. True to his reputation of yesteryear, Kanté excelled through his sense of sacrifice and anticipation. Of course, it was only Luxembourg but he demonstrated that he was more than an interesting recourse to Didier Deschamps. Replaced by Warren Zaire-Emery (63rd)clean in its transmissions.

– Fofana (6.5): in line with what he demonstrated during the last gatherings with the Blues, the Monegasque again scored points. Chosen to accompany Kanté and Griezmann in midfield, the Habs were present in the duels and performed well in their restarts. Faced with a low block, the native Parisian did not hesitate to take his chance, as with this heavy strike from outside the area captured by Moris. Player having touched the most balls, the captain of ASM is progressing visibly with the Blues. Replaced by Eduardo Camavinga (90th).

– Griezmann (6): absent during the last meetings of the French team, the Atlético de Madrid midfielder found his place in the French midfield as agreed. Playing a step higher than Kanté and Fofana, the Frenchman took advantage of the permutations between Mbappé and Thuram to shine, like his shot which found the opposing post (13th). True to himself, the native of Mâcon initiated good movements such as this delivery for Mbappé whose recovery was diverted by Moris (26th). The only criticism to make of him this evening is his lack of precision in the last gesture (72nd). Replaced by Olivier Giroud (80th), requested by the Saint-Symphorien public.

– Kolo Muani (6.5): preferred on the right flank to the ill Dembélé, the Parisian had the opportunity to score points with the French coach. In search of confidence at the end of a trying season at club, the former Frankfurt player highlighted his quality of dribbling and overflowing from the first minutes of the game. Subsequently, the Ile-de-France resident was weaned from balloons to the extent that the game essentially leaned towards Mbappé. However, it took a marvelous ball from Mbappé to see him wrong-foot Moris with a header (43rd). A new breath of fresh air for him.

– Mbappé (8): see above

– Thuram (5): positioned at the forefront, the 2024 Italian champion lit the first fuse of the game even if his on-target shot lacked power to worry Moris (7th). Overall, the Milanese struggled to stand out even if he sometimes combined well with his teammates in the Luxembourg camp. But in a match of this ilk, we could expect much better from the former Borussia Mönchengladbach player. Replaced by Bradley Barcola (81st). For his first selection in A, the Parisian immediately got into the rhythm by taking an ill-adjusted back pass from a Luxembourger before transmitting to Mbappé.

Luxembourg

– Morris (5): he made a reflex save in front of Mbappé (25th), and can’t do much about the three French goals.

– Mahmutovic (4.5): the defender almost reduced the gap late in the match, but his header hit the crossbar. In defense, he managed to maintain his marking quite well, helped by his friends in defense.

– Chanot (4): he had to fill the spaces left by Carlsson against Mbappé, and was well helped by his teammates, in a low block. He was not often overtaken, but his marking sometimes left something to be desired.

– Carlson (3): he was overwhelmed by the speed of Mbappé on the opening score for the Blues, and had difficulty closing his lane. A complicated match for him, facing a hell of a client.

– Jan (3): the captain had difficulty managing the speed of Kolo Muani, and was at fault for the third French goal, losing the ball in front of Barcola.

– Olesen (3.5): the attacking midfielder didn’t have many balls to get his hands on, and failed to shine this evening, spending most of the game running behind the ball.

– Martin Pereira (4): the midfielder played his role as sentinel successfully, but did not necessarily succeed in acting as a link to the attack. He annihilated some offensive situations.

– Till (3): he spent his time running behind the ball, having little success in finding the attackers when he had the ball. Replaced by Mustafic (44th) just before the break, who himself gave way to Philipps (54th), injured in the shoulder.

– Dzogovic (4): the full-back tried to block his lane, but he had a hell of a client in the person of Kylian Mbappé. He was often overtaken by the Real Madrid neo-striker.

– Sinani (4): his back-to-goal play allowed his team to gain some breathing room when his team tried to play high, and contributed greatly to the defensive efforts. But his offensive contribution was less.

– Rodrigues (4): his technical quality undermined the French midfielder at times, but he had difficulty getting out of the pressure in the middle. Some technical flashes, but too few to make a difference.