Three days after its convincing success against Brazil (1-2), the France team concluded its American tour with a new test against Colombia. On the lawn of the Northwest Stadium, Didier Deschamps’ men had the opportunity to continue and, above all, to fine-tune the final adjustments a few months before the World Cup. For this meeting which looked like a final full-scale rehearsal, the French coach opted for a large turnover while retaining his 4-2-3-1. Brice Samba kept the cages behind a defense made up of Maxence Lacroix, Lucas Hernández, Pierre Kalulu and Lucas Digne. In the middle, Warren Zaire-Emery supported N’Golo Kanté behind an attacking trio made up of Maghnes Akliouche, Rayan Cherki and Désiré Doué, while Marcus Thuram occupied the point. In a very rhythmic start to the match, the two selections went blow for blow. Zaire-Emery sounded the first alert of a strike on the edge of the area (3rd), while Luis Díaz responded immediately for the Cafeteros without finding the target. France then monopolized the ball more, while remaining vigilant defensively, notably thanks to the authoritarian intervention of Lucas Hernández on a dangerous cross.
The match remained open and pleasant, but the Blues ended up making the difference after half an hour of play. Opportunistic, Désiré Doué took advantage of a deflection at the entrance to the area to unleash a slightly deflected shot which deceived the Colombian goalkeeper Álvaro Montero (30th). A first goal for the selection which launched the Tricolores perfectly. Before the break, Didier Deschamps’ men even hit the nail on the head. Highly visible during the first act, Akliouche placed a perfect cross on the head of Marcus Thuram who rose above the South American defense to make the break (41st). Returning from the locker room, the French dynamic continued. On a quick transition, Cherki found Thuram in depth, who ideally served Doué for the Parisian winger’s double (56th). France then led by a wide margin and seemed to have definitively lost the match. Despite the late reduction in the score signed by Jaminton Campaz (77th), the Blues generally mastered their subject, ending this American tour with a clear victory (1-3) and encouraging collective certainties.
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But the great satisfaction of the evening was undoubtedly Désiré Doué. Lined up from the start in the left lane, the young talent from Paris Saint-Germain delivered a particularly accomplished performance. Hard-hitting, inspired in his ball-handling and always fair in his choices, he constantly put the Colombian defense in difficulty. His first goal in the blue jersey, followed by a double after a perfectly executed collective action, symbolizes the impact he had on the match. Beyond the statistics, it is above all his maturity and his ability to integrate into the French collective game which left an impression. In a reshuffled, but ambitious team, Doué clearly seized the opportunity to show himself, sending a strong signal to the offensive competition embodied in particular by Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise, all of whom remained on the bench at kick-off.
Lucid and smiling after the meeting, the person concerned nevertheless savored this successful evening while keeping a cool head. “ A lot of pride, I’m very happy, it’s a great victory, it wasn’t easy, there was intensity, we had two good matches, we’re very happy, I’m very happy and proud. The coach told us, it was important to win today, we put in the intensity, we have to continue like that. What if I score points? It happens naturally, I try to help the team and do the best possible “, he described on the broadcasters’ microphone. A simple statement, but revealing of his state of mind… Performing without projecting too far ahead, Doué continues to grow within the French group. Three months before the start of the American World Cup, this major performance could well count in the mind of Didier Deschamps and redistribute certain cards in the offensive hierarchy, already well stocked with unique talents, of the Blues.
