Current world champions, France were surprised and lost, in turn, to Denmark in their debut in the League of Nations. The game, held this afternoon, ended 2-1 inside the Stade de France.
Benzema opened the scoring for the home team at the beginning of the 2nd stage with a great goal. Dane Cornelius, a forward who came off the bench, scored twice for his country and became the name of the match.
The duel was marked by an injury to Mbappé, who felt his left knee still in stoppage time and fell to the pitch. The PSG ace was substituted at half-time and is now a cause for concern among the French.
In addition, the match served to break a 20-game unbeaten taboo by Deschamps, which had not lost since November 2020.
O UOL Esporte summed up what was the electrifying confrontation between the European teams. Check it out below
Dynamachine!?
Despite playing in their domains, France started the match cornered by Denmark, which did not bother with the pressure of the Stade de France and went up.
After three minutes, the team of Kasper Hjulmand scared in a play built by the right. Olsen, already at the edge of the area, activated the striker Dolberg, who hit a cross.
The shot came out without much force and went through the goal defended by Lloris. The side Maehle arrived in speed and tried to finish, but the ball deflected on the post before going out for goal kick.
Denmark full-back Maehle hit the post on Lloris in the match against France
Image: Franck FIFE / AFP
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strong answer
Amid the intense rhythm of the visitors that lasted for a few more moves, the French managed to neutralize the duel and almost opened the scoring.
At eight minutes, Griezmann risked a shot from medium distance and forced Schmeichel to work. Shortly after, it was Benzema’s turn to receive from Kante and hit: the ball, however, stamped the defender Vestergaard.
In the midst of the consecutive attacks, the hosts even swung the nets: Mbappé, in the middle, activated Benzema, who received a free kick and displaced the Danish archer. The goal was disallowed for offside.
—Benzema even scored against Denmark in the 1st half, but the goal was disallowed
Imagem: Christian Hartmann/Reuters
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Game cools down, and Mbappé is injured
The dangers of goals from both sides made the two teams slow down the pace of the confrontation after the 20th minute.
Even with more fouls and pass errors, the game still had control of France, who looked for spaces in the rival defense. Denmark, on the other hand, began to explore counterattacks mainly from the left side, with Maehle.
In one of the home team’s attempts, Mbappé, already in the 1st time stoppage time, gave a short pass to the middle and fell alone on the lawn, alleging pain in his left knee.
After a medical analysis carried out at halftime, the coaching staff chose to replace the PSG star, who will now undergo examinations: Nkunku has joined.
—Mbappé left the France-Denmark match after a left knee injury
Imagem: Alex Gottschalk/DeFodi Images via Getty Images
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Benzema: on fire!
Even without one of their stars, France pressed again at the beginning of the 2nd stage. Coman, in a beautiful move from the right, advanced and crossed to Benzema around two minutes.
the center forward Real Madrid even won on top of Wass, but headed high. Even so, shirt 19 managed to balance himself and finished again, this time with the right foot: Schmeichel made a great defense by stifling the bid.
Benzema, however, did not give up and, at five minutes, scored a goal. He received – again from Coman – on the right, scored with Nkunku already at the edge of the area and cleared three Danes before hitting, with category, to the back of Denmark’s nets: 1 to 0.
—Benzema celebrates goal scored for France in the match against Denmark
Image: Franck FIFE / AFP
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Indigestible surprise with a draw
The Danish equalizer came, surprisingly, in the 22nd minute, during which the hosts maintained control of the match – despite the loss of Varane through injury.
In a play originating from the left side, Hojbjerg gave a beautiful cross to Cornelius, who had just entered. The striker infiltrated between the French defenders and concluded with category to the goal of Lloris: 1 to 1.
Shortly after, almost the turnaround: Olsen received a free-kick on the right and advanced on rival defenders. With space, he risked from outside and saw the French goalkeeper practice a beautiful save.
—Denmark players celebrate goal scored by Cornelius
Imagem: Christian Hartmann/Reuters
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Fast pace
As soon as they were tied, Deschamps’ team went out in a more forceful way to attack in search of victory. On the other hand, the visitors again bet on speed to turn the duel.
In the 35th minute, Kanté hit Schmeichel’s post with a shot from the edge of the area. On the rebound, Nkunku missed the target.
Shortly afterwards, midfielder Eriksen, who had been discreet until then, had the opportunity to turn to the Danes: he received a great pass inside the area and hit the goal, but Lloris did a miracle and avoided the worst.
Cornelius is the name of victory
Denmark reached the turning point already in the 43rd minute – and in a great bid by Cornelius, who scored for the 2nd time.
He received a great shot in depth and, still in the French midfield, carried the ball towards Lloris’ goal through the left sector.
Using physical strength, the striker beat Saliba in the body and, with his left leg, stole the goal from Lloris, who now couldn’t do anything: 2 to 1 and the score was closed.
—Cornelius scored twice for Denmark in the comeback against France
Image: VAN DER HASELT / AFP
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Technical sheet: France 1×2 Denmark
Tournament: League of Nations
Data: June 3, 2022
Local: Stade de France, in Paris
Time: 15:45 (from Brasilia)
goals: Benzema (5 min of the 2nd half), Cornelius (22 min of the 2nd half and 43 min of the 2nd half)
France: Crying; Kound, Varane (Saliba); Coman, Kante, Tchouameni and Theo Hernandez; Griezmann (Rabiot), Mbappe (Nkunku) and Benzema. Coach: Didier Deschamps
Denmark: Flattery; Andersen, Nelsson, Vestergaard (Kristensen) and Maehle; Hojbjerg, Delaney (Jensen), Wass (Damsgaard), Olsen (Braitwhite) and Eriksen; Dolberg (Cornelius). Technician: Kasper Hjulmand
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