the French team ends its 2023 year with a draw in Greece

The Blues were almost overthrown by the Greeks on Tuesday in a match which had no major sporting stakes (2-2).

There will be no grand slam for the Blues. Already qualified and assured of being seeded at Euro 2024, the France team was aiming for an eighth success in eight qualifying matches, but only obtained a draw, Tuesday November 21, against Greece ( 2-2), at the OPAP Arena in Athens. After Randal Kolo Muani opened the scoring in the first period (42nd), it was Youssouf Fofana who saved France from a defeat with a distant and powerful strike (74th).

This second goal by far in a few days from the AS Monaco midfielder, after that against Gibraltar on Saturday (14-0), confirmed his very good performance in the midfield on Tuesday. Above all, it cast a chill in the brand new AEK Athens stadium as the spectators were enthused by the herculean performance that their players produced in the second half.

Five minutes of tricolor deconcentration

The first period of the Greeks, who will go through the play-offs in March to qualify for the Euro, was however nothing epic: for 45 minutes, they offered almost nothing, except a wall of five defenders facing the Blues attack. Serious and diligent despite the lack of challenge, Didier Deschamps’ players first responded. The opening came from two players who had a lot of trouble existing. On a good ball from Youssouf Fofana, Olivier Giroud saved for Randal Kolo Muani, who did not tremble to score with a powerful shot from a tight angle (42nd).

In difficulty in recent weeks, both in selection and in club, the PSG striker hardly celebrated his second goal in Blue, his first since the semi-final of the World Cup against Morocco. We understand: apart from his goal, he didn’t really score any points this evening, like Ousmane Dembélé. When they left the field, in the 64th minute, Greece went back in front and the Greek players, including the starters and substitutes, celebrated this turnaround.

This required five minutes of deconcentration on the French side, combined with a failed recovery from Lucas Hernandez which captain Anastasios Bakasetas took advantage of to score with a beautiful volley (56th). A few moments later, Jules Koundé caught a cold in the cold Athenian late autumn, allowing Fotis Ioannidis to give the Greeks the advantage (61st), in a fiery atmosphere.

First place in the Fifa rankings still playable

It was before Youssouf Fofana’s sudden strike, on a pass from… Kylian Mbappé, who came on the field a few minutes earlier. The captain sounded the revolt and the Blues pushed. They came close to scoring twice. First on a ball from Kingsley Coman deflected by a defender, hitting both posts, giving the impression of having crossed the line (89th). Then, Kylian Mbappé, himself, fired a long-range shot repelled by Vlachodimos on his crossbar, in the final moments (90th + 4).

Three days after the trip against Gibraltar and with eight changes in the starting team this Tuesday, France was treated to real opposition. She was not rushed for long, but conceded two goals during her weak time. Frustrating as she wanted to end her year on a good note and with first place in the Fifa rankings. It’s still playable but Argentina should not beat Brazil tonight. This honorary award would crown an overall very successful year for the French, who have not finished a year number 1 in the world since 2001.