Budapest (AFP)

Awkward like Benzema, unlucky like Mbappé, the attack of the Blues relied on the inexhaustible Antoine Griezmann, the "darling" of Didier Deschamps, to return to the height of modest Hungary (1-1) Tuesday in the second match of the Euro.

On paper, the attacking trio of the France team made the football world salivate as the Euro approached.

But since the start of the competition, the poster has taken on the appearance of a flop.

"The part to improve is the offensive animation and yet the quality is there", had also noted the coach Didier Deschamps after the inaugural success Tuesday against Germany (1-0), won thanks to a goal against -its camp and strewn with missed opportunities for the world champions in reigning European vice-champions.

Four days later, in the overwhelming cauldron of the Puskas-Arena (56,000 spectators), the French attackers struggled for a long time to light the fuse, despite several clear opportunities.

"You see that even against Hungary it's tough, so we'll have to prepare well for the match against Portugal" next Wednesday, Griezmann told BeIn Sport after the match.

"We're going to have to continue to learn, to want to work, and to improve two or three things."

Offensively, it was Karim Benzema who was the least effective, as on this occasion from Mbappé, which he concluded with a missed recovery next to the goal (31st) or when he was late, on a new service of the Parisian, to serve Griezmann on his right (35th).

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End in his discounts, involved in the defensive retreat, "KB9" has however still not shaken the opposing nets since his surprise return for the Euro.

And he had to give way to his great competitor Olivier Giroud (76th) ...

For Hungary, the real poison was called Mbappé.

In the sweltering of Budapest, the 22-year-old world champion showed himself to be ultra available, multiplying the dazzling accelerations, the thrusts and the combinations with his partners, showing that altruism was also to be ranked on the side of his qualities. .

Concretely, the Parisian gave chills to the boiling Magyar supporters on a too uncrossed head (17th), a delicious infiltration into the opposing surface (31st), a strike after a dribble to erase three opponents (33rd), a new unscrewed attempt ( 45th + 1), a head-to-head loss to the goalkeeper (66th) and a recovery from a free kick from Griezmann (69th).

With the FC Barcelona striker, the combinations have not stopped and it is "Grizou" who turned into a scorer on the French equalizer, helped by an overflow from Mbappé (66th).

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- 50th selection in a row -

Presented as the "darling" of the coach by the Blues, the 30-year-old striker pulled his team from a bad spot and thanked in his own way the coach Deschamps who had established him for the fiftieth time in a row!

"He was spared injuries despite a blow after the last friendly match (against Bulgaria on June 8, editor's note). Statistics show the influence he has through his goals and assists. When you add capacity in volume and when you do not have the ball, it is one of the very best at European and world level, "the coach had congratulated the day before.

On Saturday, the man with 93 selections added a 38th goal to his collection with the Blues, in addition to the 21 assists issued since his debut in 2014.

Involved on a goal every 115 minutes, according to figures given by the Federation before the game, the former Atletico Madrid is only three units behind Michel Platini, the third leading scorer in the history of the Blues.

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Beyond these statistics, "Grizou" remains the boss of an XXL attack line thanks to his sense of defensive sacrifice, his technical finesse and his efficiency.

"He is one of the technical leaders with his mastery of movements, the passes and goals he can score. He shows a remarkable gift of himself, sometimes he almost makes too much defensive effort. I won't. remove this nature which is important for the collective and which does not prevent it from retaining influence and efficiency, "Deschamps had noted Friday in front of the press.

Saturday was not enough for the Blues, but it was more than necessary.

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