In a meeting that was not very exciting and without a stake, since the Blues were assured of their qualification for the 2022 World Cup, Didier Deschamps had decided to make many changes in his starting XI against Finland, Tuesday, November 16 (2-0) . Some defenders like Kurt Zouma and Dayot Upamecano have assured their role, but it is the entry of executives, like Karim Benzema, which allowed the Blues to win.
Hugo Lloris: 5.5 / 10
The tricolor goalkeeper did not have a lot of work in Finland, apart from a strike captured on the hour mark. He remained vigilant on the Finnish incursions without being endangered.
Léo Dubois: 4/10
The Lyonnais, aligned in right piston, did not bring anything on the offensive plan (no center). Defensively, he struggled to get the balls out cleanly. Injured in the back of the thigh just before half-time, he was replaced by Benjamin Pavard (6/10). The Munich player played ten minutes on the right before being repositioned in the axis, within the defense to three, where he delivered a serious and applied performance.
Jules Koundé: 4/10
Aligned to the right in the three-way defense, the attacks often came from his side and the Sevillian found himself in difficulty at the exit of the ball (10 lost balls). He was replaced by Kingsley Coman in the 57th minute, whose entry signaled the awakening of the Blues with many dangerous forays.
Kurt Zouma: 6/10
The center-back had a lot of work to do against a Finnish team who tried their luck for almost an hour. He was clean in his interventions and his reminders.
Dayot Upamecano: 6/10
Like Kurt Zouma, the Bayern Munich defender delivered a solid performance, with presence in the duels, 8 balls recovered and precision in the passes to repel the Finns.
Lucas Digne: 5/10
The left side did not bring much offensively to the piston station and the Blues did not go much through the sides to carry the danger in the Finnish camp. He still tried a shot, missed, at the start of the game. He was used more defensively, with efficiency.
Aurélien Tchouaméni: 6/10
Serene, he provided good coverage in midfield. Solid in the duels (6 won), he also made three interceptions which confirm that there remains a great promise for the future of the France team.
Adrien Rabiot: 4/10
The France team lacked percussion for most of the meeting, and the midfielder is not for nothing. Very little in sight, he was replaced by Jordan Veretout in the 86th minute.
Antoine Griezmann: 5/10
More erased than usual offensively, he nevertheless provided valuable recovery assistance. The striker was replaced in the 67th minute by Matteo guendouzi, who celebrated his first selection.
Moussa Diaby: 5.5 / 10
The Bayer Leverkusen striker brought depth and speed, without necessarily being found. He is the author of the only French shot on target of the first period and was replaced by Karim Benzema in the 57th minute. The Madrid striker, whose entry sent the Finns back, was again decisive with the Blues by scoring the first goal of the match.
Kylian Mbappé: 7/10
After having looked a lot for Moussa Diaby in the first period, he found Karim Benzema shortly after the hour mark for the opener, on a combination of the new duo of hell of the Blues. The Parisian then scored the second goal on one of the flashes of which he has the secret. He could have afforded a brace at the end of the game but his curled shot was deflected by the Finnish goalkeeper.
Didier Deschamps: 6/10
In a game without a stake, the coach turned his team with tenures from Lucas Digne, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Léo Dubois and Moussa Diaby. His replacements, with hard-hitting entries from Karim Benzema and Kingsley Coman, paid off to end 2021 with a victory.