Troyes (AFP)

The France France team won 3-1 (half-time: 1-1) against the Czech Republic in a friendly match on Monday in Troyes, for the second meeting of the 1998 generation, one month from the start of the Qualification campaign at the Euro-2021.

The Bleuets were able to count on an Odsonne Edouard in great shape, author of his second double in two games, to follow after their wide victory against Albania (4-0), last Thursday in Amiens, also in friendly.

The men of Sylvain Ripoll broke away in the second half, with a goal from former Troyen Bryan Mbeumo on a nice combination initiated by Rayan Ait Nouri, before Odsonne Edouard scored his second goal of the day in front of the 4,500 fans present at the stage of the Dawn.

"We started well before being a little difficult against a committed team. After opening the Czech score, we reacted. There are things that I like, others that I like less. We alternate the good and the bad, but that's the beginning ?, said coach Sylvain Ripoll at the microphone of Canal + Sport at the end of the meeting.

In the first half, Edouard equalized with a shot from the right under the bar, responding to a goal from winger Patrik Zitny who opened the scoring of a fine sequence to deceive Dimitry Bertaud. In two games with the Espoirs, the young striker of Celtic Glasgow scored four goals.

- A hooked meeting -

Sylvain Ripoll had made eight changes to the victorious team of Albania (4-0) Thursday in Amiens. Ibrahima Konaté replaced as captain the Lyonnais Jeff Reine-Adélaide, still very interesting midfield tonight.

"He is a boy who smells of football, he has a great mentality and at this rally he put himself at the service of the group and he brings a lot," said the coach.

The meeting was hung, the Czechs putting a lot of impact in the duels. Where Albania did not have a single shot, the Czech Republic, led by the swift Jan Matousek, offered a real opposition to the Blueberries in an open and pleasant match.

With two victories in two games, the dynamic is nevertheless well and truly launched for the new generation of Bleuets, despite the absence in the middle of Mattéo Guendouzi (promoted in A) and Houssem Aouar (injury), one year of the Games Olympic Games in Japan.

France will start its qualification campaign against Euro-2021 against Azerbaijan on 10 October in Calais, in an affordable group with more Switzerland, Georgia, Liechtenstein and Slovakia.

© 2019 AFP