Saint-Denis (AFP)

Anthony Martial tiptoed away from the Blues in 2018, but the Manchester United striker did not miss his return with a successful performance Tuesday against Croatia (4-2), three days after a hard-hitting entry into Sweden .

"What he did today proves that he is on the right track", congratulated Didier Deschamps at a press conference.

"I'm not going to say he's transformed but he's changed, and I have already noticed it off the pitch too," said the manager, praising the merits of a "very solid player, capable of provoking, to mark ".

It's almost a second career that begins in the French team for the 24-year-old center forward, after a first three-year freelance (2015-2018) inconclusive in the tricolor jersey: a very small goal in eighteen selections, a meager record barely thickened by four assists.

Replacing little in sight at Euro-2016, reservist for the 2018 World Cup he saw on TV, the former player of Olympique Lyonnais (2009-2013) and Monaco (2013-2015) n ' had never performed well enough in the eyes of Didier Deschamps.

"I will not be able to take away the disappointment of 2018, but he still has good years ahead of him," noted the coach after recalling this player who came "very early" to the France team and now "much more efficient".

In Manchester, Martial is indeed coming out of a brilliant season with 23 goals and 12 assists in all competitions, despite the sluggish start of the Red Devils' exercise and a season interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Placed at the forefront of the attack, the former Monegasque finally returned to the locker room the doubts arising from a transfer at a gold price (80 million euros, including 10 bonus) made in 2015 for a young player not counting while 70 matches in pro.

- Varied palette -

"We know he's capable of great goals, but I like it when he scores single goals, when he's against the net, and this season he's done it a number of times," said explained his trainer Ole Gunnar Solskjaer a few weeks ago.

Tuesday against Croatia, his palette gave more sparkle to a rather moribund attack.

He hit from far above (22nd), shifted Antoine Griezmann towards goal (33rd), made deep calls (40th) before helping the Blues, led 1-0, to pass the Croats just before half-time.

It was he who started the movement leading to the equalizer from his left side, relying on Ferland Mendy who put away towards Wissam Ben Yedder.

The Monegasque slipped the ball subtly to Martial who had followed to serve Griezmann altruistically (43rd).

Three minutes later, he placed himself in a fox from the surfaces receiving a good cross from Ben Yedder, which he took back by throwing his left foot.

The ball hit the post before bouncing off the Croatian goalkeeper who scored against his side (45th + 1).

- Goals, freshness and speed -

"It had been a long time since I last came so it was important to me to have a good game, I managed to score and make an assist, we won so I'm very happy", appreciated on TF1 Martial, whose previous tenure dated back to March 2018.

Happy to return to the France team, the striker had promised to bring "a few goals, freshness, speed" during the rally.

He put in a little of all these ingredients on Tuesday, after already a remarkable entry against the Swedes on Saturday at Solna.

It was he who got the penalty missed by Griezmann (90th + 5), less than twenty minutes after replacing Kylian Mbappé.

"I do not know if it is linked to his relationship with Solskjaer, but we find him more confident," said French captain Hugo Lloris, Martial opponent in the Premier League, on Monday.

And the Tottenham goalkeeper to extend: "He gave himself the opportunity to have a chance for the France team. He wants to settle down over time."

Less far than that, there is the Euro.

It's nine months away.

© 2020 AFP