After five consecutive draws, the Blues have regained the victory that had eluded them since the failed Euro, Tuesday, September 7 in Lyon, against Finland (2-0) in qualifying for the World-2022.
It did not take more for the France team, tossed about by injuries and poor performance, to heal its morale at the same time as its balance sheet.
There it is now consolidated in its first place with 12 points in six matches, against five for his visitor who has however two matches less.
"We did not do everything well, but there was more determination. The technical quality is there. We have regained confidence, we have been closer to the standard which must be ours", rejoiced on TF1 the trainer Didier Deschamps.
Its players clearly raised their level of play on Tuesday, after the very poor copies made in Strasbourg against Bosnia-Herzegovina and then in Kiev against Ukraine (1-1 each time).
However, the bad luck of the coach had accompanied him to Lyon, where he had to deal with the suspension of Jules Koundé and the last-minute package of Kingsley Coman, victim of an injury after so many others (Mbappé, Kanté , Tolisso, Upamecano).
The Griezmann and Benzema duo paying off
At the kick-off, the Basque technician had bet on a rearguard with three central defenders, as in the cursed eighth-final of the Euro lost against Switzerland (3-3, 5-4 tab), extended on the sides by right-back Léo Dubois and left-back Theo Hernandez, remarkable for his first selection despite an error that could have been expensive at the end of the match.
In front, Antoine Griezmann was responsible for feeding the attack pair composed of Anthony Martial, scorer on Saturday in Kiev, and Karim Benzema, the child prodigy of Lyon received by an ovation from the 57,000 supporters of Décines, a banner wishing him the "welcome" to him.
The Real Madrid center forward thanked them with a performance combining class and fighting spirit.
He did not shake the nets but he raised the stadium with a delicious and decisive pass for Griezmann (25th), before boosting the action of the double of “Grizou” (53rd).
A double that allows him to equal Michel Platini, the third best scorer in the history of the Blues with 41 units, and to find color after rather dull performances.
The Lyon public accompanied the replacement of the Atlético player (90th) with a round of applause.
A month of October with a double stake
Despite the absence of Kylian Mbappé, who left with an injury after Bosnia, the Blues enjoyed striking offensive phases, with the regular contribution of Theo Hernandez and, above all, Griezmann / Martial / Benzema combinations always in the right tempo ( 38th, 60th).
After five games without a win, in all competitions, there was an urgent need to win and the French did very well.
They can now approach more serenely a month of October with two challenges: on the ground, playing in the final tournament of the League of Nations in Italy;
in front of the TV, watching their opponents in qualifying play the late matches, without being able to be caught.
With AFP
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