There were some questions on the French side, three months after the World Cup final lost to Argentina. Would Didier Deschamps’ men have digested this major blow? Would the international retirements associated with Raphaël Varane, Hugo Lloris and Steve Mandanda have any impact on the solidity of the group? Not to mention the recent episode of the appointment of the captain, with a disappointed Antoine Griezmann not to have been chosen at the expense of Kylian Mbappé. The answer was simple and clear: the France team was not disturbed in the least. And she showed it by winning easily against the Netherlands (4-0)for the first qualifying match for Euro 2024.

We did not have to wait more than two minutes to witness the opener with, as a symbol, a pass from Mbappé for Griezmann (1-0, 2nd). On fire, the Blues quickly doubled the mark six minutes later, this time on a scramble which proved to Dayot Upamecano after a free kick put in the box by Antoine Griezmann and badly cleared by Jasper Cillessen (2-0, 8th) . Transparent and eaten by clinical Tricolores, the Oranje conceded a third goal, this time scored by Kylian Mbappé (3-0, 21st). At the break, the match was already folded.

Maignan shines

But we had to remain vigilant against the quarter-finalists of the last World Cup, and that’s what the French did. Even if Mike Maignan had to intervene on a free kick from Memphis Depay (58th), the Blues fired a boost. After a point-blank recovery missed by Randal Kolo Muani (59th) and a goal logically refused to Moussa Diaby for an offside (86th), it was the inevitable captain Mbappé who folded the match once and for all with and doubled (4-0, 88th).

do you find the match? Not quite because Dayot Upamecano put his arm on the ball in the tricolor area and conceded a penalty. The opportunity for Maignan to stand out and the AC Milan goalkeeper did not miss the opportunity to stand out. Dive on the right side on Depay’s attempt, and « clean sheet » validated for the goalkeeper (90th + 5). The new chapter is very damaging for the France team which already has its sights on Ireland, which it will face on Monday. In the meantime, the Blues are in first place in their group.