Brilliant Tchouaméni, discreet first for Nkunku … The notes of the Blues

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There was no stake but points were to be taken on the long road leading to the 2022 World Cup, scheduled in eight months. Victorious on the edge against Côte d’Ivoire in a friendly on Friday March 26 (2-1), the French team was able to do its first tests of the year. We will remember the first selections of Christopher Nkunku, Jonathan Clauss and William Saliba, but above all the very good match of Aurélien Tchouaméni.

Hugo Lloris: 5/10

He can perhaps do better on the goal of Pepe (19th), who deceives him with a shot from the wrong foot in a very tight angle, which he is supposed to block. His second period is of a better ilk, with two fine saves on long shots from Konan (50th) and Aurier (57th).

Jules Kounde: 5/10

Like Lucas Hernandez, his eccentric counterpart among the three central defenders, Koundé was put in difficulty in the first act by the entries in the axis of the winger facing him, Wilfried Zaha in this case. But he was not signaled by an error, nor by a projection forward.

Raphael Varane: 6/10

If we did not see Sébastien Haller from the meeting, Raphaël Varane had something to do with it. A reassuring performance for those who are going through a difficult season with Manchester United. But she was cut short by a foot injury which caused her to be replaced by William Saliba (59th), who celebrated his first selection with the Blues to the cheers of the Vélodrome at each touch of the ball.

Lucas Hernández: 4/10

Pepe’s activity and dribbling shook him. He was one of the most disappointing players of the evening, even if he erased some flaws in the second act.

Kingsley Coman: 4.5/10

Aligned for the third time at the right piston position, he did not convince as much as against Finland and Kazakhstan. He did not quell doubts about his defensive abilities and was rather messy offensively, with bad choices and avoidable ball losses. But he delivered two centers that could / should have hit the mark at the end of the match for Griezmann (63rd) and Giroud (86th). Replaced by Jonathan Clauss (88th), who was celebrating his first international cap.

Aurelien Tchouameni: 8/10

Definitely the man of the match. And yet he was not in the best phase of his career with Monaco in recent weeks… In addition to delivering his team in added time, with an authoritative header from a corner from Mattéo Guendouzi (90th +2), he released strength and serenity in the heart of the game of the Blues. He is a bit of what Pogba missed tonight.

Paul Pogba: 5.5/10

On good days and bad, one thing remains true. When you have to break lines, the France team can’t do without Paul Pogba. The match started strong with his ball over for Griezmann (4th) and a laser pass for Nkunku who split the entire opposing block (6th). However, he slips from the start of the Ivorian goal and pays the contrast with Tchouaméni this evening, who looks like him on the meadow, plays in the same position as him, but did things better than him at the Vélodrome. Replaced by Adrien Rabiot (88th).

Theo Hernandez: 6.5/10

It was only his fifth selection and he already gives the impression of being indispensable to his position. If the Ivorian goal comes from his side, he was everywhere on the ground, behind and especially in front. After having tried his luck three times (5th, 15th and 22nd), it was he who treated his club teammate, Olivier Giroud, to the equalizer, dropping the ball on his head (22nd). Five games, one goal and four assists. Indispensable offensively.

Antoine Griezmann: 4/10

The more time passes, the less he is the guardian of the game of the Blues. And when he does, it is his inaccuracies that signal him, such as when he connects two back passes directly for the opponent in 20 seconds (49th). He is not far from saving his match but misses a very big opportunity – even if the Ivorian goalkeeper makes a huge save – by throwing himself on a cross from Coman (63rd). Replaced by Matteo Guendouzi (75th).

Christopher Nkunku: 4/10

He was eagerly awaited for his premiere, but taking on the role of Kylian Mbappé may have been too big a suit for him on Friday night. If he was signaled by a good shift for Théo Hernandez (5th) and a difficult header on a free kick from Griezmann (31st), that’s about all there is to remember from his benefit. Very shy and replaced by Wissam Ben Yedder (75th).

Olivier Giroud: 6/10

He was not on the list and we wondered if he would ever come back. But Karim Benzema’s package came through and he only needed 22 minutes to find the net. With a perfect header, he put the Blues back on track and is only four goals away from equaling Thierry Henry as the top scorer in the history of the France team.

Didier Deschamps: 6/10

Above all, don’t say anymore that he is a convict of conservatism. Since last year, DD has changed its tune and no longer hesitates to modify its plans. After installing his three-man defense, offering an unusual piston role to the offensive Coman, he did not hesitate to entrust an important role to Nkunku for his first – admittedly unsuccessful – launch of Clauss and Saliba. Failing to see a very large French team, which is not essential in a friendly, the daring bonus made it possible to offer a joyful spectacle and to discover new faces.


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