Despite a complicated match, the French hopeful team snatched victory in added time in Bosnia this Friday.
At the head of theFrench hopeful team since September, Thierry Henry had a dream start. After a big victory (4-1) in a friendly against Denmark, the Bleuets also defeated Slovenia (4-0) on the first day of the Euro 2025 qualifiers.
Blueberries surprised
The third stage took place this Friday with a trip to the lawn of the Bosnia and Herzegovina for the second day. Largely favorites on paper despite a team reshuffled by the departures of Malo Gusto and Castello Lukeba with the France team, Rayan Cherki quickly show their superiority by obtaining the first chances, without being able to conclude. For their part, the Bosnians tried to be dangerous on the counterattack and on set pieces and ended up finding the fault in the 28th minute by Admiring Bristric who deceives Guillaume Restes in two stages, the Toulouse goalkeeper not managing to properly repel his opposite number’s first attempt. (1-0, 28th)
It didn’t take long for the Bleuets to come back! Merlin pass for Rayan Cherki! 1-1 #lequipeFOOT pic.twitter.com/JnhTl2xIaN
— the L’Équipe channel (@lachainelequipe) October 13, 2023
The reaction of the French was not long in coming since four minutes later, Cherki found himself on the receiving end of a cross from Quentin Merlin and equalized for his team (1-1, 32nd). The Lyonnais scored his third goal in three matches since Henry’s arrival, his fifth in his last five caps. The two teams return to the locker room with a parity score.
In the second act, the tricolors push to finally take the advantage but come up against a solid and well-organized defense. Satisfied with a zero score, the locals did not reveal themselves and united to maintain this good point. Thierry Henry tries everything by bringing in several attackers: Mathys Tel, Désiré Doué, Maghnes Akliouche and Arnaud Kalimuendo.
😍 At the end of the suspense Arnaud Kalimuendo takes a cross from Mathys Tel! Relief for the Bleuets who take the advantage in stoppage time#lequipeFOOT pic.twitter.com/aAUrejum2o
— the L’Équipe channel (@lachainelequipe) October 13, 2023
A winning coaching since Kalimuendo, on a cross from Tel, scores with his chest in stoppage time and offers our team a third consecutive victory. Thanks to this success, the Bleuets take the lead in Group H despite a match behind Slovenia. The only downside was the exclusion at the end of the match of Désiré Doué, too aggressive on his entry and the author of two more than avoidable mistakes.
