Caen (AFP)

The France Espoirs team, not satisfied by its qualification for Euro-2021, beat Switzerland (3-1), undefeated so far, to take first place in the group at the finish, in the 10th and last day of the qualifiers, Monday in Caen.

"Normans and conquerors."

The Bleuets have made their motto of the Norman club, which bars the walls of the Michel-d'Ornano stadium.

Four days after securing their ticket to the European Championship in Liechtenstein (5-0), Jeff Reine-Adelaide's teammates fulfilled their second goal, finishing first, during an evening that confirmed the extent of their potential.

They signed a beautiful revenge against the "Nati", the only selection to have beaten them during this campaign (3-1) and victorious so far in its nine meetings, on a score which allows them to return to the front, thanks at their best attack.

Coach Sylvain Ripoll wanted "character", his players served him.

While Switzerland had taken pole again in the 88th thanks to Kastriot Imeri, the Bleuets responded in added time, by Randal Kolo Muani (90th + 2).

- Decisive Guendouzi -

The Nantais took advantage of the hard work of Mattéo Guendouzi, who recovered the ball on the center line then chained by an overflow of 50 meters, to offer a deserved finish to the Bleuets.

The whole thing, ten against eleven!

Author of a double (18th, 23rd) earlier, Odsonne Edouard had rewarded the good start to the game of French revenge, who set fire to the lake with their pressing and their enthusiasm.

This performance, a full-scale test of the Euro, will inevitably create expectations.

The Glasgow Celtic striker joined the top scorers of the Englishman Eddie Nketiah (11 goals), and in his wake, a whole team can dream big for 2021, between the Euro and the Olympic Games.

In Hungary and Slovenia, in a competition cut in two (March 24-31 for the hens, May 31-June 6 for the final phase), the Bleuets will hope to go further than the previous generation, which stopped in half -final in 2019.

The match against Switzerland gave them certainty, both in attack and defense, despite the absence of several executives, including Houssem Aouar, Dayot Upamecano, Wesley Fofana and Jonathan Ikoné.

- Edouard not far from the treble -

In front, Edouard feasted.

He won his duel against Anthony Racioppi at the conclusion of a counter initiated by Guendouzi and well led by Jeff Reine-Adelaïde.

He signed the break five minutes later, alone, clever, taking advantage of an error of appreciation by defender Cédric Zesiger.

The post ended the fireworks, pushing back the shot that would have offered him a hat-trick in ten minutes (27th).

In the process, the recovery of Amine Gouiri, framed, found the ankle of the Dijon goalkeeper, author of an acrobatic stop.

Third thief in the attack, Captain Reine-Adelaïde also stood out, but he lacked realism on his two biggest occasions (49th, 57th).

Better efficiency would have allowed the Bleuets to take shelter at the end of the game, against the Swiss who only needed a goal to get back to the top.

But in defense, and this is another positive lesson of the match, the Badiashile-Koundé hinge imposed its strength, leaving only crumbs to Andi Zeqiri, the Swiss striker (9 goals).

In front of them, Boubacar Kamara also distinguished himself.

At the very end, France began to run out of fuel, after the exclusion of Colin Dagba (58th).

Imeri almost made him pay.

But his character ended up making the difference.

Promising.

© 2020 AFP