Strasbourg (AFP)

Les Bleuets like their elders: freewheeling.

The France Espoirs team has largely won (5-0) against Liechtenstein, Thursday in Strasbourg, in a qualifying match for Euro 2021.

This sixth success, in the race for the U21 European Championship, allows the Bleuets to temporarily join the Swiss, who will travel to Georgia on Friday, at the top of the standings.

Beaten (3-1) by Switzerland in November 2019, the French Hopes are still running behind the Swiss neighbor but also consolidating their second place for qualification.

With 18 points, Sylvain Ripoll's men are the best second out of the nine groups among which the five best second will qualify for the finals in Hungary and Slovenia.

Positioned in 5-4-1, Liechtenstein, last in the pool, did not weigh heavily against the Bleuets, even deprived of their top scorer Odsonne Edouard (9) tested positive for coronavirus on Tuesday.

In the first half, the new Ikoné-Gouiri duo quickly showed promising efficiency.

The Lille attacking midfielder, descended from the Blues for the October session, first ideally served his Nice counterpart (1-0, 7th) before the latter returned the same two minutes later (2-0, 9th ).

Amine Gouiri, Nice revelation in L1 (2 goals, 2 assists), was going for his double at the half hour mark, once again served by Jonathan Ikoné (3-0, 30th).

Among the firsts, Brest midfielder Romain Faivre, even if he missed a penalty (40th), and Nantes striker Randal Kolo Muani, holders, both scored for their first selection: Kolo Muani headed on a corner kick from Gouiri (41st), Faivre with a low shot with the left foot served by captain Matteo Guendouzi (51st).

In defense, Wesley Fofana, recently transferred from Saint-Etienne to Leicester for 40 million euros, and which was also a first in Blueberries, passed a test in a chair in this one-sided meeting.

The five French goals were scored in the opposing penalty area, where the debates were played out throughout the game.

Monday, still in Strasbourg, the French U21s host Slovakia who narrowly lost (1-2) against the Swiss in September.

Another customer than Liechtenstein.

© 2020 AFP