A tasty communion with the public. A lap of honor and the Blues all smiles. Blue-white-red flags waved in all directions... The party in Saint-Denis. Meanwhile, Zinédine Zidane, discreetly, has already returned to the locker room, letting his troops enjoy every moment Monday evening at the Stade de France after their victory against Belgium (4-1). A success, the third in four matches, which took time to take shape before the magic of Olise, Doué and Cherki, stunning replacements who swept away everything in their path. The results are good. The hopes are there. The road is still very long.
Dembélé, missed match and missed rally
For his last evening of the start of the school year under the eyes of a certain Aimé Jacquet, the coach remained faithful to his desire to see as many players as possible. This time, ten changes between the team held in check by Italy (1-1) on Friday and the one lined up against the Red Devils. Only Ousmane Dembélé kept his place. And we wonder how the Ballon d’Or was in such difficulty during the first act. Bad choices, too readable play and waste at this right winger position, allowing Estéban Lepaul to taste a second tenure. In the end, a failed match and even a rally crossed like a shadow in the absence of Kylian Mbappé. Light years away from what he can offer to Paris SG. 71 selections, 13 goals, it’s far too little when you want to mark the history of the France team.
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The Blues were heckled and sluggish for a long time
Too academic, too messy and far too neutral, the Blues even returned to the locker room trailing - a first under "ZZ" - after Lukebakio's goal (0-1, 35th), who took full advantage of the lax marking of Andy Diouf, the midfielder converted to defender. On this occasion, L'Interiste was neither, simply overwhelmed by the Belgian execution, displaying its defensive shortcomings in full scale. Aware of witnessing a match that was far too sluggish for his troops (which is also his fault), Zinédine Zidane waited until the hour mark to change gear and launch the armada with the entry of Olise, Cherki and Da Cunha (Dembélé, Akliouche and Koné replaced).
Olise, Cherki, Doué… The coaching of “ZZ” changed everything
Coaching which bore fruit with the equalizer from Désiré Doué - who came on in the 72nd minute - who did himself justice with an inherited ball with his back to goal at the entrance to the area, and a sumptuous strike from the left (1-1, 77th). Then when Michael Olise put everyone on the right side to serve Rayan Cherki, causing the explosion of the Stade de France (2-1, 81st). Before the Munich player scored his 3rd and 4th goal of the rally (3-1, then 4-1, 88th, 90+1), in a crazy end to the match. Moment chosen by the public to chant “Olise Ballon d’Or”… Life is simpler, and much more beautiful, when you bring in players from Paris SG, Manchester City or Bayern Munich. The Belgians, stunned and on the ropes, will not say the opposite.
Magic to close the sequence
The management of the squad, and the appearance of the match, will finally have proven Zinédine Zidane right (this is always the case when a coach wins) on Monday evening. The new master of the place was able to see the world, introduce the selection to two rookies (Restes, Yoro), glimpse the limits of some (Lepaul, Diouf) and launch the cavalry in the second half which devastated everything in its path. Four matches, three victories, a draw and a lot to remember before the trip to Milan on November 12, a match to validate a place in the quarter-final of the Nations League. But above all an audience in heaven, from boredom to magic in Saint-Denis and Aimé Jacquet happy with the trip. The new Zidane era is definitely launched.
