It was in Baku, against Azerbaijan, that the France team concluded the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup this Sunday. A meeting without any real stakes since the Blues validated their qualification on Thursday, by beating Ukraine at the Parc des Princes (4-0).
And if the match started badly for the Tricolores, surprised by a goal from Renat Dadashov (0-1, 4th), the trend quickly reversed with the equalizer signed Jean-Philippe Mateta, with a header (1-1, 17th). Enough to put Didier Deschamps’ players back on track.
Seven minutes were almost enough for the French to take the advantage, with a strike from Malo Gusto deflected by Christopher Nkunku (24th). Deflected by the hand, judged the referee Mr. Treimanis, while the AC Milan striker had his arm stuck to his body.
The incomprehension of Bixente Lizarazu
An incomprehensible decision for Bixente Lizarazu, in comments on TF1 with Grégoire Margotton. “I don’t know where he can put it, the arm. It’s stuck to his body. I don’t know what he can do. He can cut it, perhaps… Didier doesn’t agree, like me. »
There is indeed reason to wonder about these hands in the box which, from one match to another, are rarely judged in the same way. Except that in this case, the Latvian whistle was not mistaken, offensive hands leading to a goal must be systematically sanctioned.
A rule that the journalist and his consultant also recalled in the second half, the 1998 world champion making his mea culpa. Without consequence for the Blues, Maghnes Akliouche (2-1, 30th) and Khéphren Thuram (3-1, 45th+1) then quickly found the fault.
