The 26-year-old Northerner had to start finding the long, very long time on the French bench. But after seven games without playing, he was able to grasp Deschamps' outstretched hand and be decisive, if not brilliant in the game.

In the 50th minute, he popped up to intercept a pass from Josh Cullen, brought the ball into good position and unleashed a dry strike that, after grazing an opponent's back, lodged beautifully on the bottom of the crossbar before going in. Enough to awaken the sweet memory of his magical volley against Argentina at the 2018 World Cup...

"The World Cup didn't go the way I would have liked, but I was there for the team, I'm here for the collective. Tonight, I had the opportunity to play, it succeeded me and in addition, I scored, "savored with the Channel L'Équipe the defender, scorer during the first shot framed of the match.

Keeping the Australian memory away

In the euphoria of his third international goal, the first since November 2020, Pavard soared towards a corner post to celebrate his jewel of a long slide, before hitting his chest like a warrior.

The celebration had a strong taste of liberation for the Munich, cheered by nearly 3,000 French fans massed in a corner of the Aviva Stadium.

Former taulier of Deschamps, the No. 2 of the Blues has brutally slipped in the hierarchy of the right backs after the first match of the World Cup in Qatar against Australia (4-1), which he started. Jules Koundé donned the starting clothes in Qatar, replaced by novice Axel Disasi, an axial defender by training.

Benjamin Pavard tries to stop Australian Craig Goodwin during Les Bleus' success in Doha, November 22, 2022 © FRANCK FIFE / AFP/Archives

The coach has tasted little of his performance against the Socceroos, and even less the attitude of the 2018 world champion, after. According to several media, Pavard refused the criticism made by the staff towards him, which completed to condemn him.

"No one is left out"

The Blues boss let him marinate in purgatory for four months, as an undeclared sanction, but he nevertheless chose to select him for the resumption in March, with substitute status to begin with.

"Benjamin was a starter in previous years" but at the World Cup "he had a very complicated first match. And then Jules took over," Deschamps said in the post-match conference.

Admittedly, "he had a difficult period but despite his personal disappointment, he kept the right state of mind vis-à-vis the group," said the coach. "Nobody is left out, all of them can have difficult periods, it's up to them to react, in relation to what I tell them, and when they have playing time too."

Hug between coach Didier Deschamps and Benjamin Pavard, scorer against Ireland, on March 27, 2023 in Dublin © FRANCK FIFE / AFP

By lining him up in Dublin, Deschamps revived one of his most capped players and maintained a form of emulation on the right side of the defence, where Koundé was in an armchair.

In the 81st minute, the coach brought Pavard out to give him rest and a long hug, under the eye of the cameras.

Beyond his goal, Pavard did not show much however, like his partners overall, less inspired and better contained than Friday against the Netherlands (4-0). The Munich native focused very little and received a warning very early (22nd), which may have slowed him down in his offensive expression.

But his goal has great value for France, first in their qualifying group before more affordable deadlines in June against Greece and Gibraltar.

© 2023 AFP