France already firing on all cylinders as new chapter begins
key players having retired from international football, France, still reeling from their heartbreaking loss in the World Cup final, faced a serious test against the Netherlands on Friday and they passed it with flying colours.
Forward Karim Benzema, keeper and captain Hugo Lloris and influential centre-back Raphael Varane all quit Les Bleus, leaving Kylian Mbappe with the skipper’s armband in their Euro 2024 Group B qualifier.
The Paris St Germain forward led by example in Friday’s 4-0 drubbing of a virushit Dutch side, netting a double as new number-one keeper Mike Maignan and a renewed central defence with Ibrahima Konate and Dayot Upamecano proved unbreakable.
Mbappe also set up Antoine Griezmann for the opening goal, soothing the Atletico Madrid player’s disappointment after he was only named vice-captain.
“He (Mbappe) was great from start to finish, he got his teammates to play, he scored goals, he defended, he helped us as he always does,” Aurelien Tchouameni said.
Eduardo Camavinga said: “His attitude hasn’t changed, he’s still the same, we’re very happy that he scored that double.
“He scores all the time — it doesn’t surprise me any more, but the most important thing is that he hasn’t changed, with or without the armband, he’s the same.”
It was also a satisfying night for coach Didier Deschamps, whose job it is to get the new generation to jell — not an easy task for the 54-year-old, who can sometimes feel disconnected from the youngsters.
“The young generation, I take their positive sides,” he told reporters.
“Sometimes they want everything right away, they want to take over quickly, but they go to big clubs aged only 18 or 19 so obviously they learn fast.
“When they sing their songs in the dressing room, I don’t get it, but we are the ones who have to adapt to them, not the other way around.”
Deschamps wasted no time in installing Konate and Upamecano, 23 and 24 respectively, in central defence.
He was also quick to trust Randal Kolo Muani, who has burst into the limelight in the Bundesliga after a convincing appearance in the World Cup final, even if he missed a lastgasp chance to win the match in extra time against Argentina.
Kolo Muani did not score on Friday, but his movement, appetite for space and ability to find his attacking partners were there for everyone to see and he is likely to become France’s first-choice lone forward.
France next face Ireland in Dublin today.
● Tiny Gibraltar could be in for a backlash when they travel to Rotterdam today to face the ailing Netherlands.
The Dutch are expected to win, but Koeman will seek much more from his players.
“I now expect a reaction on Monday. The players also know where we went wrong.
“I think this can only work out positively, that everyone knows where we stand,” he said.
On Friday’s match in Paris, Koeman added: “I expected more from everyone.
“This was a team effort that was below average and then against a very good opponent.
“The difference between the two sides was too big and I didn’t expect it.
“The virus has left its mark, but I don’t want to use that as an excuse.
“We have failed ourselves. We have to learn from this.”
It was the first game back in charge for Koeman in his second spell as Dutch coach, having replaced Louis van Gaal at the turn of the year.
The Dutch now wait to see whether five players sent away from their squad on Thursday after contracting flu might recover to play against Gibraltar, among them Liverpool striker Cody Gakpo.
Gibraltar have lost their last seven competitive away games, conceding 33 goals in the process, after they kicked off their Group B campaign with a 3-0 home loss to Greece on Friday.
● Spain’s late substitute Joselu struck two quick-fire goals on his debut to seal a 3-0 win over Norway in their first Euro 2024 Group A qualifier on Saturday as they got off to a promising start under new manager Luis de la Fuente.