French team: an evening for history

Bixente Lizarazu may have repeated from his commentary post that the 10-0 victory of the French team against Azerbaijan on September 6, 1995 in Auxerre had not marked him unduly, the Blues present on the pitch of the Allianz Riviera this Saturday evening should keep some memories of the demonstration inflicted on Gibraltar. Firstly, by the magnitude of the score, and consequently the mark it will leave in the French history book. But also because several of them have experienced a moment apart from their career in selection on an individual basis; and not just Antoine Griezmann, who leaves Nice without having scored for the first time in his career.

Records broken

First, there is the scoreboard. 14-0, we don’t even really know what other sport to compare the figures to, but the famous « score the tennis » was overwhelmed even before the break. Seven goals in 37 minutes and already a first record for an evening that was going to bring down quite a few: the Blues had never scored more than five pawns before half-time. “ The coach informed us of the record to be achieved. We wanted to stay in history and we did it collectivelyrejoiced Kylian Mbappé after the final whistle at the microphone of TF1. The team put in an extraordinary performance. » Almost without stakes and announced without much excitement, this evening in fact broke the ordinary during a second period where Deschamps’ men continued the impression of extreme ease seen from the first moments, scoring the goals like pearls.

14 – France is the first European team in history to score 14 goals in a qualifying match for a major competition (EURO + World Cup). Gorgeous. pic.twitter.com/eK2O9GCp8a

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) November 18, 2023

« We wanted to get this record », said Olivier Giroud, very happy to have been able to score a double in two minutes to close the show, bring his total to 56 caramels in the selection, and celebrate the third birthday of his youngest. “ Fourteen goals is not badsmiled Didier Deschamps in turn, still on the front page. It’s also about respecting the opponent, when you can score goals, you have to score them. We are not going to go to Greece for walks or visits. Tonight is a perfect night, except for Warren’s injury. »

Blues and bosses

Warren Zaire-Emery’s big debut was already a first event, the Parisian midfielder becoming at 17 years and 255 days the youngest player in the history of the selection for more than a hundred years. Totally improbable beginnings. In an action of which he has the secret, he had tripled the bet to offer himself – already – a first goal for the Blues, before leaving in stride, severely hit in the ankle by a tackle from Ethan Santos on the spot. “ I prefer that he remembers his first selection for his goal than for other more negative reasons », hoped his coach two hours later, ensuring that the first examinations had not revealed a fracture. If we will certainly have to wait until at least March to see him do it again, the Montreuillois may well have written the first chapter of a long romance with the rooster’s jersey.

17 & 255 – Starting this evening against Gibraltar, Warren Zaire-Emery (17 years and 255 days) is the 3rd youngest player in history to wear the French team jersey, after Félix Vial in 1911 (17 years and 76 days) and Maurice Gastiger in 1914 (17 years and 128 days). Prodigy.

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) November 18, 2023

If there are no less than nine men to have put their names on the scoreboard – and some for the very first time – one of the first to rank in the individual satisfaction section is none other than Kylian Mbappé, and not just for his eighth victory in eight captaincies. A penalty, a well-placed flat foot and finally a sumptuous lob from 44 meters: here is the Bondynois with 300 professional goals before even turning 25, an unprecedented performance. “ Getting there so quickly I didn’t think, but I always wanted to make history in my sporthe could savor. There are players who have scored 800 or 850 goals so my 300 goals are ridiculous in comparison, it’s a milestone for me. »

A step is also what this magical night on the Côte d’Azur represents in this path towards the Euro which this French team hopes will be successful. Insatiable since the disillusionment of Doha, the world vice-champions have only one idea in mind: to erase the bad memory of the last continental tournament, by offering their coach the last coronation he is missing. “ Participating is not my thing. As long as I wear this jersey, you will never hear me say that I go there for anything other than winning », said in conclusion a Mbappé sure of the strengths displayed for months by his family. This story has not yet finished being written.