Thanks to a double by Antoine Griezmann backed by a brilliant Karim Benzema, France managed to defeat Finland (2-0) and set the course for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Five games had the French team drawing, with its debacle of the last European Championship included, until the spark jumped among the forwards based in Madrid and put an end to such a disastrous streak.
It was an ideal night for Benzema, on his return to his homeland. Since he left for Real Madrid twelve years ago he had never had the opportunity to play in Lyon, not with the national team or with Real Madrid and of course not in the brand new stadium of his old team, Olympique Lyonnais. He did not score but he delighted the Lyon fans.
The French faced the game under a lot of pressure and with sensitive casualties such as Mbappé or Coman. A defeat against Finland would have made qualifying for the next World Cup uphill, without forgetting the blow to the pride and credibility of a team that is still the current world champion although less than half of the headlines this Tuesday played heaven in Russia.
A pressure that was surprising due to the little pedigree of his rival. Finland still relishes having reached the last 16 of the last European Championship, the only major competition they have played. Although it had to be taken into account that it is the only team that has beaten France in its last 22 matches on its territory, last November in a friendly in Saint Denis (0-2).
Didider Deschamp opted for a very conservative starting eleven, lining up five defenders: three centrals (Zouma, Vararne and Kimpembe) escorted by Dubois and Theo Hernández. Reinforced cement to try to shield Lloris’ goal and hope that the trident formed by Martial, Griezmann and Benzema will honor their stellar status with goals.
Faced with such an offensive threat, the Finnish coach, Markko Kanerva, was also cautious and placed the same number of defenses, but it was of little use. The scaffolding began to crumble midway through the first part when the connection between Benzema and Griezmann began to be activated.
At 22 minutes Hradecky stopped a powerful shot from the Real Madrid forward, but could do nothing shortly after against a new combination of the same protagonists, this time with Griezmann with a brilliant execution.
The goal calmed the urgencies of the French eleven because he saw that the Finns were not giving much. Lloris had so far had very little work. He cleared a loose shot from Nissila and a high ball from Vaisanen.
Shortly before the break, Benzema came close to scoring as he stood in the front of the small area after a beautiful combination of the entire French attacking front, but O’shaughnessy in extremis blocked his shot.
“Karim, Karim”, the audience would not stop shouting after having dedicated a thunderous applause to him at his presentation. Tribute to the one who responded with a great game, which only lacked a bit of aim.
After the return from the locker room, France again took command. Rabiot sent a first warning with a shot that forced the Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper to lie down. But it was Griezmann again who lifted the audience from the Lion’s stadium with a new goal as he entered and crossed a ball over the exit of the Finnish goalkeeper.
The Griezmann-Benzema couple dazzled the French fans. At 60 minutes a double wall between the two attackers did not end in the third of the night because Griezmann’s shot went slightly high.
With his two goals, the forward continued his love affair with Lyon, a city he knows like the back of his hand because he was born very close, in Macón, just three-quarters of an hour by car. Every time he steps on the land of Lyon he triumphs. With Real Sociedad he left a spectacular Chilean goal at the Gerland stadium, with Atlético de Madrid a double to win the Europa League and another with his team against Ireland to get them into the quarterfinals of Euro 2016.
The Finns only showed signs of life in the final minutes with a boarding by Teemy Pukki who stood alone against Lloris. The intervention of Kimpenbe, who had to go injured, forced the referee to review the VAR for a possible penalty. It was the only thing that could have blurred the evening for the local fans, who dismissed Benzema with a standing ovation.
– Data sheet:
2 – France: Lloris; Dubois (min. 66, Mukiele), Zouma, Varane, Kimpembe (min. 88, Lenglet), T. Hernández; Pogba, Rabiot; Griezmann (min 88, Tchouamen); Martial (min. 75, Ben Yedder), Benzema.
0 – Finland: Hradecky; Arajuuri, O’shaughnessy, Vaisanen; Uronen (min. 62, Soiri), Alho (min. 80, Raitala); Schuller (min. 62. Onni); G. Kamara, Nissila (min. 71, Kairinen); Pohjanpalo (min. 71, Jensen), Pukki.
Goals: 1-0, min.25: (Griezmann. 2-0, min.52: Griezmann.
Referee: Deniz Aytekin (GER). He admonished Schuller (min. 3), Pukki (min. 63) and Arajuuri (min. 71).
Incidents: match corresponding to the sixth day of the European qualification phase of the 2022 World Cup played at the Groupama Stadium, home of Olympique de Lyon, in front of some 58,000 spectators. EFE (HN)