The French team has its ticket for the 2026 World Cup. Victorious over Ukraine, France could approach its last qualifying match calmly on the pitch in Baku, Azerbaijan. And as the match was anecdotal, Didier Deschamps could do without his best elements and give playing time to his replacements, like Chevalier, Khéphren Thuram, Gusto Akliouche, Ekitike, Nkunku or even Zaire-Emery, who had to show up to hear their name during the last list to go to the United States.
But from the first minutes, there was astonishment in Baku. On an overflow which took Gusto by surprise, Dashdamirov was able to cross perfectly towards Dadashov for the opener in front of a Knight who was too short (1-0, 6th). Reshuffled, this French team had difficulty in the first minutes finding themselves and passing the ball against the surprising Azerbaijanis. Better after ten minutes, the Blues managed to equalize thanks to a good cross from Gusto directly on the head of Mateta (1-1, 17th). Enough to make up for the defensive error of the ex-Lyonnais.
The substitutes took points
This quick equalization put the Blues back in the right direction, who were finding more and more points of reference. Gusto even thought about giving the advantage after a good recovery, but a handball was reported (24th). It was finally following a nice movement between Hernandez, Thuram and again Gusto that Akliouche was able to take over and score his first goal for the Blues (2-1, 30th). And after a new goal refused for Thuram, the Juve midfielder was still present at the forefront to take a cross at the far post, returned directly by Magomedaliyev into his own goal (3-1, 45th).
In management after the break, the Blues reacted well to calm the home team. In control, without being too dangerous, this reorganized French team did not wish to force the goal, despite the entries of Cherki, Thauvin or Barcola. Thuram could even have scored a goal, but Bayramov, the substitute goalkeeper who came on, was decisive (73rd). With five wins and one draw, France ends its qualifying campaign undefeated and obviously at the top of its group. Azerbaijan is bottom of the standings, with only one point taken.
