Without punch or imagination, a very rejuvenated French team was content with the minimum this Thursday, November 14 in Saint-Denis against Israel (0-0). A draw sufficient to qualify. No major incident had been reported before the match, played in front of a sparse audience and with reinforced security.
Despite 22 shots, not always on target, the France team was unable to overcome a strong Israel team on Thursday at the Stade de France. As if the stakes of a high-risk meeting in terms of security had numbed the game. All in front of a very sparse audience and a stadium feeling hollow.
This draw is nevertheless enough for Didier Deschamps' men to reach the quarters of this League of Nations, even before the last group match against Italy.
A guardian in a state of grace
Apart from a header from Kolo Muani and a shot from Kante deflected by Peretz, the Blues, without Mbappé not retained, had not shown much in the first half. They were hardly more impactful in the second half.
In the 75th minute Peretz further delayed the deadline with a strike from Zaire-Emery, well served by Kolo Muani. Marcus Thuram missed another opportunity, with a header, in added time, before a final save from Peretz on a strike from Nkunku from the penalty spot.
No incidents before the match
The hours preceding the meeting did not reveal any particular incident, in a gloomy atmosphere under high protection.
Last week, Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters were victims of violence and anti-Semitic insults on the sidelines of a match against Ajax.
A journalist from the Team deprived of accreditation
One of L'Équipe's journalists was refused accreditation for the France – Israel meeting this Thursday evening, November 14 at the Stade de France. The authorities carried out pre-filtering ahead of the match and refused to issue the document allowing the reporter, a regular follower of the French team, to access the Stade de France to cover the match, without any explanation being provided. . A situation that the sports daily deplored.
However, the start of a scuffle broke out in the stands of the Stade de France between French and Israeli supporters at the north turn, above the French Irrésistibles. It pitted a few dozen people against each other, and punches were thrown, which caused a crowd movement for a few minutes.
Start of brawl in the stands
Several individuals with Israeli flags were part of this beginning of the brawl. Supporters chanted several “Free the hostages” in response. Then a double cordon of stewards was put in place to separate the two groups.
The pro-Palestinian demonstration against the holding of this France-Israel this Thursday (9 p.m.) also brought together around 400 people, before the start of the meeting, on the Place du Front Populaire, in Saint-Denis.
France
