BLUE SCREAMER
Giroud rocket means he’s now scored more goals for France than the legendary Zidane!
EVEN Didier Deschamps was caught smiling. France’s homecoming was extravagant, from the two golden stars fashioned in the Stade de France stands to symbolise two World Cup victories in 20 years, to the parade of the trophy afterwards.
The rendition of La Marseillaise felt even more atmospheric than ever, a huge banner lay on the pitch reading ‘Champions Du Monde’ revelling in their achievement over in Russia.
France cannot be decried this overt demonstration, yet the world champions never really hit their straps and needed a stunning Olivier Giroud volley to down Holland with 15 minutes to play.
Deschamps should not be unduly worried given the class coursing through his team. Captain Raphael Varane leads maturely; Paul Pogba looks continuingly liberated. Then there is Antoine Griezmann. Then there is Kylian Mbappe. Mbappe is a phenomenon and not just because he scored his ninth international goal before hitting the age of 20.
Mbappe is already their jewel. He plays where he wants, owning the sort of freedom afforded to Lionel Messi at a parallel juncture in his career, and his explosiveness makes France such an unpredictable force. Physically strong while nimble across the ground, the Paris Saint-Germain striker constantly looks unplayable.
He might have scored twice before eventually finding the net after 14 minutes. That tap-in while unmarked at the back post came after a catastrophic header by Quincy Promes allowed Blaise Matuidi to easily find Mbappe lurking.
Holland — who are placing great importance into the futures of midfielder Frenkie De Jong and defender Matthijs de Ligt, both tracked by all of Europe’s elite — ended up heading for half-time arguing among themselves. Ronald Koeman had to act as peacemaker between Daley Blind and Virgil van Dijk.
The Dutch might have had a penalty when Benjamin Pavard felled Georginio Wijnaldum. Wijnaldum later skewed a chance wide before Ryan Babel equalised in the 67th minute. Giroud’s intervention, scooping Benjamin Mendy’s menacing cross past Jasper Cillessen, finished this and moved him one goal clear of Zinedine Zidane’s 31.
The Mexican waves had already started by then, so too the Viking thunder-clap. France can be forgiven for those on this occasion and it was the response from 80,000 inside to Mbappe’s opening goal that felt significant. They can often be a divided nation in many respects but not when Les Blues play. Mbappe lingered, accepting the adulation longingly. He and those around him are continuing to offer France some relief.
Meanwhile, Nico Schulz’s debut goal handed Germany a patchy 2-1 friendly win over Peru.
The Hoffenheim midfielder slotted home late on in Sinsheim, sparing boss Joachim Low’s blushes after a sticky German showing.
Schulz’s low drive crept under Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese’s body and into the net, as the hosts edged to victory at the RheinNeckar Arena.
Luis Advincula put Peru ahead with a crisp finish, before Julian Brandt levelled for the hosts before half-time.
But just as Germany were staring down the barrel of a frustrating draw, Schulz’s 18-yard effort had just enough power to squirm home and seal the hosts’ muchneeded win.
Germany were bidding to exorcise the demons of their horrible World Cup experience, where they failed to progress past the group stages in Russia.
Low’s men just about managed to start that process with a victory, but the performance level will have left much to be desired.
Advincula drilled the visitors into the lead after latching onto Christian Cueva’s through ball, though home goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen will have been frustrated to have been beaten at his near post. Just three minutes later Germany were level though, Brandt dinking neatly home after captain Toni Kroos’ neat ball had bisected the Peru defence.
Jefferson Farfan should have blasted his side back into the lead when racing through on goal after the break. Instead the Peru skipper only managed to fire high into the stands, in the process gifting Germany a huge reprieve.
And the Peruvians were made to pay for that profligacy when Germany snatched the victory with five minutes remaining.
Just as all and sundry were gearing up for a galling draw, Schulz struck from the edge of the area more in apparent hope than expectation.
Gallese should have dealt with the danger, but instead the ball wriggled under his body and into the net — sparking equal measures of celebration and relief for the Germans.