The French team returns to Belgium this Monday in Brussels (8:45 p.m.), for the fourth day of the League of Nations, and Didier Deschamps’ Blues have four victories in a row against the Red Devils. The last four confrontations between the two neighbors? In the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup in Saint Petersburg (1-0), in the semi-finals of the 2020-2021 Nations League in Turin (3-2), in the round of 16 of Euro 2024 in Germany, the 1st last July, and a month ago in Lyon (2-0). Before that, in June 2015, the French team fell heavily at the Stade de France against the Belgians in a friendly (3-4).
In the absence of Karim Benzema, who had missed the end of the Real Madrid season due to a muscular injury, Olivier Giroud was established at the forefront by “La Dèche”, within a formation that was not very offensive since the midfield was composed of Moussa Sissoko, Yohan Cabaye and Blaise Matuidi… Belgium’s golden generation put on a show. Marouane Fellaini scored twice (17th and 42nd), Radja Nainggolan deceived Hugo Lloris from afar (50th) and Eden Hazard scored the 4th goal from the penalty spot (54th). After a foul on Giroud, Mathieu Valbuena reignited the suspense with a penalty in front of Thibaut Courtois (53rd).
Giroud replaced by Ntep
Transparent at the forefront of the French attack, surrounded by Jason Denayer, Olivier Giroud gave up his place in the 80th minute (by Paul-George Ntep), under the whistles of the SDF, while Alexandre Lacazette had been thrown into play at Antoine Griezmann’s place. Nabil Fekir (89th) and Dimitri Payet (90th) reduced the gap at the end. “Some Blues like Cabaye and Giroud disappointed and could be called into question by the good returns of Payet, Lacazette and Fekir”wrote The Parisian. We had no idea then of Giroud’s monumental career in EDF, he the essential center forward of the 2018 world champions and top scorer in the history of the selection.
Giroud was therefore in the sights of the French public even before the sex tape scandal. It was in fact during this gathering in June 2015 that Valbuena was contacted for the very first time by people who had a video recording of a sexual encounter by the player. Didier Deschamps’ playmaker then contacted the police, who wiretapped various people. And investigators discovered during the October gathering that Benzema, at the request of a childhood friend (Karim Zenati), suggested that “Valbu” get in touch with the blackmailers.
