Sarajevo (AFP)

Endangered and uninspired Wednesday in Sarajevo, the France team relied on Antoine Griezmann to defeat Bosnia-Herzegovina (1-0) and soften its qualifying course at the World Cup-2022, for its last official outing before the Euro.

After a sluggish draw against Ukraine (1-1) and not flamboyant success in Kazakhstan (2-0), the French went on to a third meeting in a row without much brilliance.

But the world champions know how to get by when their legs are weighed down by long journeys, and their soldier Griezmann, already a scorer eight days earlier, is one of those who never despair.

His victorious header at the hour mark (60th) places him the only 4th top scorer in the history of the Blues (35 goals) and allows the March camp to end on a good accounting note.

With 4 points ahead of Ukraine, 2nd in Group D, after three out of eight matches, the presence of the French in Qatar at the end of 2022 is in fact hardly in doubt.

But before we finish the job in the fall, there is a Euro to play in June, and a few thousand more kilometers to travel across Europe, from Munich to Budapest and maybe also to London, theater of the final on July 11.

The Blues will approach the deadline with confidence, and also some habits of long distances.

In less than a week, they will have recorded more than 10,000 kilometers by plane, the fault of their excursion to Nur-Sultan on Sunday, a grueling trip.

- Imperial Lloris -

Four days later, a change of scenery: to end this spring journey, Nur-Sultan's thick snowpack has given way to the few still icy peaks around Sarajevo.

And on the lawn of the Grbavica stadium, the team composition of the Blues did not have much to do with that of Kazakhstan either: eight changes, and for only survivors of the steppe of Central Asia Hugo Lloris, Griezmann and the unexpected Thomas Lemar.

As expected, the eleven tricolor rather approached the one who had disappointed against Ukraine eight days earlier, with Paul Pogba and Lemar in addition, Olivier Giroud and N'Golo Kanté (injured) less.

The lack of enthusiasm seen in Saint-Denis continued on the French side, between a little sharp Kylian Mbappé when addressing a volley (43rd), a Kingsley Coman a little soft on a head (15th) and a Raphaël Varane not imperial in duels.

After having only had to negotiate a shot on target in two matches, Lloris had to work this time, on a shot from Darko Todorovic (24th) then a point blank header from Dennis Hadzikadunic (26th).

Two superb parades to celebrate a 123rd selection which places him at the height of Thierry Henry, second among the most capped Blues.

- 20th success since the World Cup -

Opposite, the "Dragons" of Edin Dzeko and Miralem Pjanic, who signed his 100th cape, proved to be more dangerous than the previous opponents of Didier Deschamps' men.

This delighted the handful of onlookers who, braving the curfew set at 9:00 p.m. in the country, had a breathtaking view of the lawn from the hill overlooking the small stadium and its 13,000 empty seats.

They believed in it until the hour mark, the moment chosen by Didier Deschamps to relaunch Giroud, the great absent from the starting eleven.

And as if by a miracle, when his favorite offensive mate appeared at his side, Griezmann embellished himself, finding himself alone to take back a good cross from Adrien Rabiot and finally find the loophole.

March 2021 will not be remembered as the most spectacular of the Blues' gatherings, but the Habs are casually signing an 8th success in a row away from home, their 20th victory since the World Cup.

What to wait serenely until the month of June.

© 2021 AFP