The Blues did not really shine but provided the essentials this Sunday in Baku, against Azerbaijan. Winners 1-3 after conceding the opener in the 4the
minute, the French concluded their qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup with a record of five wins and one draw. While allowing luxury replacements to shine.
“ After the qualification obtained, I told them to do the job, but to do it as best as possible. We had a not good start to the match at all, we reacted well afterwards. It’s very good to end with a victorysays Didier Deschamps, afterwards at a press conference. I saw all the players, apart from Brice Samba who was not involved. I was able to get answers regarding the next deadlines. »
Among the elements who perhaps scored points with the national coach, Maghnes Akliouche, author of his first goal in the A tricolor jersey. “ Compared to his temperament, which is rather introverted at the beginning, he has let loose a little more. It’s important that he scores today, it’s obviously interesting. Through the playing time he gets, he tries to improve it. Even if there are a lot of offensive players and a lot of absentees, he has taken a step forward to be more decisive », Judges the Bayonne technician, thus relayed by L’Equipe.
“Always important to see the players in action”
Same benevolent look at Jean-Philippe Mateta’s performance. “ It’s his second start, he scores, it’s very good for him. Hugo Ekitike is gaining confidence too. He is a young player, with a lot of dynamism. He has an ability to punch with his speed. These are offensive elements that are added. » Remember that Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, Marcus Thuram and Radal Kolo Muani were missing from this gathering, and that Kylian Mbappé had been made available to Real Madrid for this trip to Baku.
Another element cited during this media briefing: Khéphren Thuram, a midfielder who is among Didier Deschamps’ possible jokers for the World Cup. “ He too was able to have more playing time. It’s always important to see the players in action. Obviously, if he could have been credited with a goal, it would have given a little extra to his performance (twice the Turinese thought he scored in Azerbaijan, before intervention by the VAR and csc finally validated, editor’s note). He has technical quality and a percussion capacity which allows him to make differences. »
