The France team will see Qatar at the end of 2022. At the end of a match mastered from start to finish, Saturday, November 13, at the Parc des Princes, the Blues crushed Kazakhstan (8-0) and validated their ticket for the next one. World Cup (November 21-December 18, 2022). This success and this qualification, the French team owes it especially to its number 10, Kylian Mbappé, author of his first quadrupled in selection for his 20th, 21st, 22nd and 23rd goal in blue. It is the first time since 1958 and Just Fontaine that a player of the France team has scored four goals in the same meeting.
The local of the stage apparently got it into his head to shine in a stadium he knows perfectly and to remove as quickly as possible all the (slight) doubts surrounding this match. Throughout the week, observers took pleasure in recalling the catastrophic scenario of France-Bulgaria (1-2) in 1993 in the same Parc des Princes, which had prevented the Blues from participating in the World Cup in the United States. some months later.
In reality, Didier Deschamps’ players never trembled on Saturday night against the 125th nation in the FIFA rankings. From the warm-up, the difference in level between the two teams seemed obvious. It was confirmed on the field after six short minutes of play and the opening of the score from Mbappé, who came to catch a volley from a center in perfect withdrawal from Theo Hernandez (6th).
22 – Kylian Mbappé scored 22 goals with the France team at the age of 22 years and 10 months, it is at least 3 years less than any other player (Thierry Henry at 25 years and 10 months in June 2003) . Phenomenon. pic.twitter.com/tVgUXOH2f0
– OptaJean (@OptaJean) November 13, 2021
The Blues knew it: to avoid spending a long evening and inflicting one on the Kazakhstanis, you had to score quickly. Without imposing an exceptional pace, the Habs took advantage of each space to rush into it and find the net with formidable efficiency. All thanks to a Mbappé of great evenings. The Paris Saint-Germain striker is not involved in Karim Benzema’s goal (56th) and Adrien Rabiot’s first selection achievement (76th), but has been constantly dangerous.
One of the other great men of this evening at the Parc des Princes is a former PSG. Positioned as a right piston in place of Benjamin Pavard, Kingsley Coman convinced, even if he did not have to defend. The Bayern Munich winger delivered two assists for Mbappé, the first on a counterattack (12th), the second on a delicious cross from the right side (32nd).
Head scorer on his third achievement of the evening, Mbappé confirmed his current good performance with the Blues, punctuating his evening with a quadruple (87th) before leaving to the ovation of the Parc des Princes. And when he did not score, the PSG striker left it to Antoine Griezmann to transform the penalty late in the game (84th), after delivering an assist for Benzema (59th) on the fifth goal.
The Real Madrid striker, also in great shape on Saturday night despite only one collective session performed this week, then offered himself a brace to become the 5th top scorer in the history of the Blues, three minutes after taking advantage of the offering – the second in the evening – by Theo Hernandez (56th). By winning their biggest victory since 1995 (10-0 against Azerbaijan), the Blues had the perfect evening at the Parc des Princes, a place of history for the French team, where the latter used to be qualify for international competitions before the inauguration of the Stade de France in 1998.
35 – Karim Benzema scored his 34th and 35th goals with the France team, equaling and then overtaking David Trezeguet as the 5th top scorer in the history of the Blues. Cap. pic.twitter.com/if2JUb9Eju
– OptaJean (@OptaJean) November 13, 2021
The Parc des Princes took advantage of the symbolism of the date to pay a silent and emotional tribute to the victims of the attacks at the quarter of an hour of play, while the Blues had stepped on the brake at 2-0, before continuing with a Marseillaise. The evening was beautiful, therefore, with a serious performance and a new goal fulfilled. After the victory in the League of Nations a month ago, the Blues are officially qualified for the next World Cup.
The staff of Didier Deschamps can be relieved: the France team avoids a perilous final in Finland on Tuesday, and will be able to approach this last match of Group D with serenity. A small feat for the Blues, who had not qualified on the penultimate day of a World Cup qualifying campaign since 1981.