At the end of the draw against Iceland (2-2), Jean-Philippe Mateta spoke at the microphone of TF1shared between the frustration of the result and the satisfaction of having scored his first goal for the French team. “We wanted the victory, but we took this goal at the end… We pushed until the end, we could have done better overall”confided the French striker, visibly disappointed to see the Blues leave Reykjavik with just one point. For him, this match with twists and turns left a bitter taste, even if a draw was still preferable to a defeat: “We come away with a draw, I prefer that to losing. »
Despite this collective disappointment, Mateta experienced a memorable evening on a personal level. For his first start in the blue jersey, the Crystal Palace striker found the net, rewarding his efforts and the confidence given by Didier Deschamps. “It’s a very strong moment for a striker to score a goal. First start, first goal… The smile? Obviously “he concluded, while emphasizing the positive state of mind of the group: “Yes, there are positives to be taken. We will continue to work together. » A message of determination.
