Mbappé Shines, But Ankle Injury Clouds France‘s World cup Qualification Push
Kylian Mbappé once again proved pivotal as France secured a commanding 3-0 victory over Azerbaijan in their World Cup qualifying campaign. Though, a late ankle injury to the captain casts a shadow over their immediate prospects, potentially impacting their bid to officially book their place in next year’s tournament.
France now sits atop Group D with nine points after three matches, giving them a golden opportunity to confirm qualification when they travel to Iceland on Monday. Didier Deschamps’ side demonstrated resilience despite missing several key attacking players,ultimately overcoming a sluggish start to dominate the contest.
Key Takeaways from the Victory
* Mbappé’s Influence: The 26-year-old opened the scoring just before halftime and provided a crucial assist for Adrien Rabiot’s goal.
* Squad Depth: Despite the absence of Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, and Bradley Barcola due to injury, France showcased their depth with contributions from across the squad.
* Late Surge: Substitute Florian Thauvin marked his return to the national team with a goal, adding gloss to the scoreline after replacing the injured mbappé.
* Deschamps’ Concerns: The manager acknowledged the team’s underwhelming first-half performance, highlighting a lack of pace and creativity in their build-up play.
Azerbaijan remains at the bottom of the group with just one point, trailing Iceland (three points) and Ukraine (four points). You can expect a challenging road ahead for them in their qualification journey.
First-Half Struggles, Second-Half Dominance
france began brightly at the Parc des Princes, with Mbappé and Malo Gusto creating early opportunities. However, a lack of precision and a resolute Azerbaijani defense frustrated their efforts. It wasn’t until the stroke of halftime that Mbappé’s individual brilliance unlocked the deadlock, skillfully weaving through the defense to slot home a low shot.
The second half saw a marked improvement in France’s intensity. Ekitike nearly doubled the lead early on, hitting the post with a powerful strike. Rabiot then headed home Mbappé’s pinpoint cross in the 69th minute, effectively sealing the victory.
Mbappé’s Injury & Thauvin’s Impact
Regrettably, Mbappé’s evening ended prematurely after suffering a recurrence of an ankle injury. He was substituted in the 83rd minute, making way for Thauvin, who hadn’t featured for Les Bleus since their 2018 World Cup triumph.
Remarkably, Thauvin made an immediate impact, scoring a delicate volley with his first touch of the ball. This moment provided a fitting end to the match and a boost for the team.
Deschamps confirmed that Mbappé was in excellent form, but the pain in his ankle became too intense to continue. The extent of the injury remains to be seen, and his availability for the crucial match against Iceland is now in doubt.
Looking Ahead
France’s unbeaten run in World Cup and European Championship qualifying now extends to 26 games. However, Deschamps will be keen to see a more consistent performance from his team, especially in the early stages of matches. Securing qualification on Monday in Iceland woudl be a significant step towards their goal of defending their World Cup title. You can be sure that the team will be focused on delivering a strong performance,despite the uncertainty surrounding Mbappé’s fitness.
(Based on reporting from FRANCE 24 and reuters)
