Saitama (Japan) (AFP)

A hat-trick and an assist for Téji Savanier: André-Pierre Gignac allowed the France team to snatch the 4-3 victory against South Africa on Sunday in Saitama and to maintain the hope of seeing the quarters at the Tokyo Olympics.

After the slap received against Mexico in the opening (4-1), Sylvain Ripoll's Blues had to win.

They did it in pain, after the extra time of a meeting where they were very often jostled.

Thanks to this success on the wire, the Blues take their first three points and provisionally first place in group A before the match between Japan and Mexico in the evening.

"We offered ourselves a final against Japan (note: July 28). After each goal (South African) we felt a little more in the plane (back), but we knew how to come back each time . We did not want to return to France, "launched" Dédé "Gignac in a press conference.

The South Africans have long been the most dangerous.

Paul Bernardoni thus deflected with a beautiful flight a free kick from Luther Singh (15th), then the Angevin goalkeeper fell on a strike from Evidence Mkagopa.

The South African striker then got a huge opportunity when his powerful shot found the post (23rd).

Bernardoni still had to work on a strike from Kobamelo Kodisang two minutes later.

Captain André-Pierre Gignac sounded the awakening of the Blues but his goal, after a deep service from Thauvin, was refused for offside (29th).

- South African penalty on the bar -

More mobile and impactful than the French, the South Africans ended up getting a penalty shortly before the break after a Lucas Tousart foul on Kodisang, but the cross saved Bernardoni on Singh's strike (41st).

The goalkeeper of the Blues was again requested on a curled shot from Kodisang just before the break.

On the return from the locker room, the South African domination finally resulted in a goal from Kodisang (53rd) who took advantage of a defensive error by Clément Michelin and a bad exit from Bernardoni.

But André-Pierre Gignac responded in the wake of a strike between the legs of the goalkeeper after a service from Randal Kolo Muani (57th).

The South Africans regained the advantage by Evidence Makgopa (73rd) before a new equalization of Gignac, from the head (79th).

In this "crazy match, with an exceptional scenario", as Sylvain Ripoll described it, Teboho Mokoena replaced his team in front of a superb strike wound in the skylight (81st).

It was without counting on Gignac who put the two teams tied on an overpowering penalty (86th) to afford a hat-trick and his fourth goal in these Games.

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The French captain then became a decisive passer for Téji Savanier.

After recovering the ball in the area, the Montpéllierain feigned and scored with a low strike (90 + 2, 4-3).

The deliverance ... or almost for the Blues who were still hot in the last moments when Luke Fleurs had the ball of 4-4, which he finally sent far above.

"The technician that I am cannot be satisfied with that defensively. But there was a reaction of pride from the group, with André-Pierre, who was a great scorer as usual" summarized Ripoll.

© 2021 AFP