A rare performance in the history of the Bleuets: they will compete in the spring for their second European Championship in a row, a “Doubled” that their predecessors had only succeeded once, in 1994 and 1996.
The France Espoirs team has indeed qualified for Euro 2021 after its easy success in Liechtenstein (5-0), Thursday, November 12, in Vaduz, during the 9e and the penultimate day of the playoffs.
“Taking part in two Euros consecutively is a good thing, but it is also the place of the France team to be there”, recalled, at the microphone of Canal + Sport, the tricolor coach of the under-21s, Sylvain Ripoll, already at the helm during the qualification for the 2019 edition.
Direct duel against Switzerland for first place in the group
With eight wins for one loss, his team opened wide the doors to competition, ensuring its presence among the top five second (out of nine groups). The first place remains within his reach, in the event of victory, Monday in Caen, against Switzerland, the only selection to have beaten it during this campaign, and which occupies the head with 27 points taken out of 27 possible.
The teammates of Jeff Reine-Adelaïde and Mattéo Guendouzi must beat the “Nati” with two goals difference in order to take the lead, and collect points in the UEFA coefficient for the draw.
“This game is important to us, because I don’t want to finish second. It’s important to finish first ”, assured the coach.
Before this “Final”, the Bleuets have shown seriousness to validate their qualification on the lawn of the group’s red lantern. Colin Dagba’s goals (3e) and Romain Faivre (5e) quickly dispelled the little suspense that surrounded the fate of the meeting.
In a one-sided game (20 shots to one), France did not give any gifts for the first selection of local goalkeeper, Luca Vanoni, replacing FC Balzers, the Liechtenstein club which plays in the Swiss fourth division.
One Euro in two parts
Loïc Badiashile pushed Roman Spirig to score against his camp (17e), on a corner of Guendouzi. Reine-Adelaide, wearing the captain’s armband, increased the bill after half-time with a direct off-center free kick (57e), before serving Isaac Lihadji for the 5-0 (80e). The young Lille, 18, unlocked his counter in his first match with the Hopes.
He only missed a goal from Odsonne Edouard, the top French scorer in the qualifiers (9 goals), who did not transform his chances (14e, 54e).
The physiognomy of the match made us forget the many absences due to managerial injuries – Dayot Upamecano, Wesley Fofana, Rayan Aït-Nouri, Jonathan Ikoné… It is against Switzerland that the Bleuets will pass their stress test, for their last appearance before the ‘Euro.
The European Championship, co-organized by Slovenia and Hungary, takes place in two parts, with the group stage between March 24 and 31, and the final draw, from May 31 to June 6.
