The Blues have recovered in their League of Nations group with their success against Austria (2-0), Thursday, September 22, at the Stade de France. Here are the notes of the players of the France team.
Mike Maignan: 5/10
Frustrating evening for the Milanese. Faced with an inoffensive Austrian attack which did not attempt any strike in the first period, Maignan had only ten balls to negotiate on foot before his exit with a calf injury at halftime. Replaced by Alphonse Areola (5/10) at the break, which did not have much more work.
William Saliba: 5/10
Not starting at kick-off, the defender quickly replaced Jules Koundé, injured (22nd). If he muzzled the Austrian attackers well, Saliba was sometimes guilty of uncertain raises.
Raphael Varane: 6/10
Reassuring, the evening captain in the absence of Hugo Lloris was content to do the job. Author of a good comeback in front of Marko Arnautovic (60th), Varane made his opponents completely sluggish.
Benoit Badiashile: 7.5/10
Comfortable and always available behind, the defender scored points for his first cap. Author of twelve recoveries, Badiashile even showed himself to his advantage offensively, like a magnificent opening for Olivier Giroud (6th). Serene in the big bath.
Jonathan Clauss: 5.5/10
The former Lensois multiplied the races in his right lane and looked a lot for Antoine Griezmann, like an ideal service in the heart of the opposing area (16th). But he failed to fit in with a big situation, alone in front of goal after a shift from the Atlético player (51st).
Aurelien Tchouameni: 7.5/10
The neo-Madrilenian was already one of the rare satisfactions of 2022 in Blues, and it is not his solid evening performance that will make us forget this observation. Very accomplice in the middle with his ex-Monegasque friend Youssouf Fofana, Tchouameni was the author of the two hottest actions on the French side in the first half: an unbalanced strike from outside the area (11th), and a superb acrobatic return repelled somehow by the Austrian goalkeeper (35th). Omnipresent.
Youssouf Fofana: 7/10
Perfectly aggressive in the heart of the game, Fofana was enterprising from the start for his debut in Blues. The Monegasque lit the first fuse (1st) and could even have opened the scoring at the end of the first period on a counter flash from Kylian Mbappé (45th + 2). A slightly less prominent after the break, he scored points for his first.
Ferland Mendy: 4.5/10
The Real Madrid side had not played for the France team since October 2020 but he failed to be decisive. Reluctant to take his left wing, Mendy was content to let Mbappé take care of the attacking game in his area.
Antoine Griezmann: 5.5/10
The return from the locker room did him good. After a first act marked by his fleeting controls and imprecise passes, Antoine Griezmann recovered and took the opportunity to offer Olivier Giroud the second goal on a plateau, with a center from the left. On the other hand, he extended his goal scarcity in selection to nine games. Replaced by Ousmane Dembélé (78th), who had time to distill some good balloons.
Olivier Giroud: 8/10
Passed not far from the decisive pass in the first period on a brilliant one-two with Mbappé (26th), Olivier Giroud was very close to the decisive pass when he brilliantly combined with Kylian Mbappé (26th). Interesting in the discounts, the striker finally served the PSG player for the opener, before scoring the break goal with his head (2-0, 65th). His 49th goal for the Blues, placing him two lengths behind Thierry Henry’s record. Replaced by Christopher Nkunku (78th).
35a & 357j – Thanks to his goal against Austria, Olivier Giroud becomes this evening, at 35 years and 357 days, the oldest scorer in the history of the French team, overtaking Roger Marche (35 years and 287 days in December 1959 against Spain). Briscard. #FRAAUT pic.twitter.com/0u5ORYB3I8
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) September 22, 2022
Kylian Mbappe: 7.5/10
Mbappé grants himself all the rights. After a first offside goal from the start (1st), the Parisian chained the tumbles on the left of the French attack and it ended up paying. On a counter, Mbappé brought the ball up almost 30 meters and resisted the return of four Austrians to come and shoot the opposing goalkeeper (1-0, 56th). Essential.
Didier Deschamps: 7/10
In view of the hecatomb of wounded, his choices were scrutinized. Starting with that of renewing his 3-5-2, which made it possible to highlight the piston Jonathan Clauss. The tenure of the Monegasques Fofana and Badiashile for their first steps in selection also proved to be profitable.