For its last friendly match before the next World Cup in Qatar in November (the next six games will count for the League of Nations), the French team dominated South Africa (5-0) on Tuesday March 29, at the Pierre-Mauroy Stadium (Villeneuve-d’Ascq). Despite the weak adversity, Kylian Mbappé was impressive, Jonathan Clauss did not seem afraid for his first tenure with the Blues.
Mike Maignan: 5.5
For his first tenure in Blue in his former garden in Lille, Mike Maignan had practically nothing to do against non-existent Bafana Bafana offensively. He was still reassuring about his meager interventions, like his cautious save on the malicious free kick from Lyle Lakay (9th).
William Saliba: 6
William Saliba was rather convincing for his first tenure in the France team, three days after his first selection against Côte d’Ivoire at the Vélodrome (2-1). He was solid defensively, even if he was not put in much danger. Only downside, the Marseillais was sometimes shy on the restart, without verticality to try to create gaps.
Raphael Varane: 5.5
Like his defense buddies, the captain didn’t have a lot of work on Tuesday night. However, he reassured in his coverage, especially when Presnel Kimpembe was caught in depth. On the other hand, it was not transcendent on the relaunch either. He made a big mistake in the first period which could have deserved a yellow card (9th). Replaced by Jules Kounde (80th).
Presnel Kimpembe: 5.5
The Parisian lived a rather contrasting part. Very serene in the defensive duels and sometimes at the origin of good raises in particular by his projections, he suffered too much behind his back. In the face of more dangerous adversity, it might have been worth more.
Jonathan Clauss: 6
First widely whistled at the start of the match, the Lensois ended up cheered by a large part of the Stade Pierre-Mauroy. Proof of his successful performance for his first tenure with the Blues. In the first period, he compensated for his technical waste with his slaughter and his will.
In the second period, he was much cleaner offensively, like his crosses for Olivier Giroud (54th) and Kylian Mbappé (68th). He also dared to try his luck twice: the first in an instant volley from the right is on target (37th), the second in a half-volley comes to die in the side netting (50th). Replaced by Christopher Nkunku (88th).
N’Golo Kante: 6
Absent against Côte d’Ivoire (2-1) for personal reasons, the Chelsea midfielder initially seemed borrowed for his return to the starting lineup with some avoidable loss of balls. But he recovered well by intercepting the ball high which led to the second tricolor goal scored by Olivier Giroud (33rd). This action reinvigorated him and we then found the N’Golo Kanté that we know. He offered a great ball from the outside of the foot to Kylian Mbappé who saw his shot end up on the crossbar (52nd). Replaced by Paul Pogba (66th).
Adrian Rabiot: 5.5
He was certainly the most discreet French starter in the game. Facing a weak South African selection, Adrien Rabiot did not show much with the ball, creating very few shifts, but knew how to be present in the impact. He still tried his luck with a powerful shot from 30 meters but too centered to worry Ronwen Williams (42nd). He was warned for a big foul on Keagan Dolly (67th). A yellow card that he would have already deserved in the first period for a sole. Replaced by Matteo Guendouzi (80th), scorer for the first time in the France team with a coiled shot from the right foot after a perfect ball (90th + 2, 5-0).
Lucas Digne: 7
Often helmed by Theo Hernandez at the left piston position, Lucas Digne has shown that he could be a more than credible alternative. He started his match on the right tempo by crossing perfectly for Olivier Giroud (5th). He also sent two other precise crosses for Kylian Mbappé (10th, 30th) and more generally combined very well with the Parisian who was often on his left wing. He could have opened his counter in Blue but he was a little off center (38th) or saw his volley deflected on the post (64th).
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Antoine Griezmann: 7
He only needed two accelerations to remind him how precious he is. On the opener, he escapes on the right side before centering at the far post for Kylian Mbappé who took care of the rest (23rd, 1-0). Ten minutes later, he offered his second assist of the evening by sending a millimeter pass in the area to Oliver Giroud (33rd, 2-0). As usual, he often combined very well in small spaces in his fairly free position as playmaker. Moussa Diaby (66th).
Kylian Mbappe: 8.5
From his first accelerations, Kylian Mbappé showed that he was well recovered from the ENT infection which had caused him to miss the match against Côte d’Ivoire (2-1) on Friday. Each touch of the ball was a real torture for the South African defense. He was well above the lot on this part, making the Bafana Bafana look like Hopes as his speed was disconcerting. He also and above all made his technique speak, like his sumptuous opener: a curled shot at the entrance to the surface which ended in the opposite side netting (23rd, 1-0).
He scored his 9th goal in five games on a penalty he himself caused (76th, 3-0). Kylian Mbappé did not go far from the hat-trick by finding the bar (52nd) or sending the ball over (68th). In addition, the native of Bondy offered a decisive pass to Mattéo Guendouzi (90th + 2, 5-0) and is the penultimate pass on the goal of Wissam Ben Yedder thanks to a precise cross (82nd, 4- 0). Involved at different levels on the five goals, he was sensational.
Olivier Giroud: 6.5
Not very visible in the construction of the game, Olivier Giroud obtained many opportunities. He was rewarded after half an hour of play by scoring his 48th goal with the Blues: served by Griezmann with his back to goal in the area, he followed up with a hook to open the way to the nets (33rd, 2-0 ). He had two more opportunities to get closer to Thierry Henry’s record of achievements (51 goals) but fell on a good Ronwen Williams (5th, 54th). Replaced by Wissam Ben Yedder (66th), author of his 3rd goal in Blue on a perfect service from Paul Pogba (81st).
Didier Deschamps : 6
If it is obviously necessary to nuance by the weak opposition of South Africa, Didier Deschamps was rewarded for most of his choices. The three who celebrated their first tenure (Mike Maignan, Jonathan Clauss and William Saliba) were convincing. His changes also since Wissam Ben Yedder and Mattéo Guendouzi completed the victory after coming into play, as did Paul Pogba, decisive passer. Finally, he put Kylian Mbappé and N’Golo Kanté back in the starting lineup: the first was fantastic, the second got stronger.