Thanks to its almost perfect performance since the start of the qualifying phase for the 2026 World Cup, the French team was able to validate its ticket for the competition on Thursday evening, after beating Ukraine (4-0). Four victories and a draw for the Blues who however have one last match to play this Sunday in Azerbaijan. Didier Deschamps should be widely used. Enough to inspire reflection in Ibrahima Konaté.
The Liverpool defender was present at a press conference this Saturday. Visibly fearful of the post-match comments if the Blues did not win in style, he preferred to anticipate and take out the umbrella. “In the first leg, there was a lack of intensity. Everyone wants to play and score points. But even if the match tomorrow is disastrous, we must remember that we are already qualified. »
And Ibrahima Konaté added to his audience: “You shouldn’t criticize, I know you well! But we will make the effort, we have homework. » During the first leg which took place on October 10, the French won with a score of 3-0. A goal from Kylian Mbappé, a second from Adrien Rabiot and a last for the returning Florian Thauvin, but overall, the level of the Blues had largely disappointed observers.
Take your chance with the Blues
A month later, the context no longer has much to do with it since France is directly qualified for the World Cup and Azerbaijan is definitively eliminated. It remains to be seen what the players lined up for the occasion by Didier Deschamps will offer during this Azerbaijan-France. Like Lucas Chevalier expected to earn his very first cap in the France A team, those who get their chance will want not to disappoint their coach.
For this final match of 2025, the Blues will therefore try to finish in style, even without their captain, Kylian Mbappé, who returned to Madrid after Thursday’s victory.
