FRANCE – IVORY COAST. The Blues snatched a success in added time thanks to a superb header from Aurélien Tchouaméni. Before, Olivier Giroud had allowed France to respond to the goal of Nicolas Pépé.
23:30 – The summary of the match
The Blues snatch victory! The first half was particularly thrilling. The intensity put into the match suggested that this meeting was anything but friendly. And France perhaps did not expect such adversity. From the start of the game, the Elephants, trained by French coach Patrice Beaumelle, put enormous pressure on the defense of the Blues. And that pressure eventually paid off. Nicolas Pépé, very leggy, eliminated Lucas Hernandez without difficulty before deceiving Hugo Lloris to give a rather deserved advantage to his team (19th). But the Tricolores did not procrastinate for very long thanks to the second top scorer in the history of the France team Olivier Giroud who with a furious whim beat the Ivorian goalkeeper (22nd) and brought his total goals to 47 four achievements less than Thierry Henry. The rest of the first period was very animated and made the two goalkeepers shine, Hugo Lloris on one side and Badra Ali Sangaré on the other. In the second period and until before added time, the biggest thrills were when the ball was touched by the two Marseillais Matteo Guendouzi and William Saliba, who entered the game. The two Olympians received ovations each time they received the ball. Apart from that, the second act was much less intense than the first. If Lloris had to work on the strike of his former teammate Serge Aurier, Badra Ali Sangaré had to do the same on the close range shot of Griezmann. It was not until the last moments of the meeting that the Vélodrome completely capsized. On a corner perfectly taken by Matteo Guendouzi, AS Monaco midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni places an unstoppable header. This is the first goal in the selection of the one who is of great interest to Real Madrid. The Blues are kicking off a series of preparation matches for the 2022 World Cup which will take place from November 21 to December 18 in Qatar.
23:19 – Aurélien Tchouaméni: “It’s beautiful what’s happening to me”
Aurélien Tchouaméni gave victory to the Blues in this France – Côte d’Ivoire and answered questions just after the meeting in a calm and confident tone that stuck to his skin. “It’s beautiful what’s happening to me. I have different goals like scoring my first goal but now we’re going to move on,” admitted the ASM midfielder, who at the height of his 22 years old scored his first national goal.
23:14 – “A lot of things to analyze”, admits Deschamps
After this France – Ivory Coast, Didier Deschamps returned to this meeting and already admits to concentrating on the rest of the events: “For a friendly match, a lot of things to analyze. It allowed me to concern a lot of players and I will make a lot of changes this Tuesday for the second friendly match to distribute playing time as well as possible.”
23:08 – It’s over!
The Blues won in extremis in this France – Ivory Coast thanks to a goal from Aurélien Tchouaméni. Before, Olivier Giroud had allowed the Habs to equalize following the opener of Nicolas Pépé.
23:05 – Tchouaméni delivers the Blues
The buuuuut of the Blues! Aurélien Tchouaméni places an unstoppable whim on a corner kick taken by Matteo Guendouzi, the Vélodrome capsizes and the Blues will win this France – Ivory Coast.
23:03 – Four minutes of added time
There will be four more minutes in this France – Ivory Coast. For the moment there are no winners in this first preparation match for the Blues at the 2022 World Cup.
23:02 – Yellow card for Konate
While he has just come into play in this France – Ivory Coast, Karim Konaté already receives a yellow card for a sole on Jules Koundé.
23:01 – Jonathan Clauss knows his first selection
Another first in this France – Ivory Coast. Jonathan Clauss comes into play and honors his first selection with the Blues. He replaces Kingsley Coman while Adrien Rabiot replaces Paul Pogba.
23:00 – Giroud’s whim!
After an excellent breakthrough by Guendouzi, the OM midfielder shifted Coman who crossed towards Giroud who took the lead but the latter lacked power and precision. Sangare grabs the ball
22:54 – Triple change for Ivory Coast
Patrice Beaumelle decides to bring new blood into this France – Ivory Coast. Karim Konaté, Max-Alain Gradel and Maxwell Cornet replace Sébastien Haller, Wilfried Zaha and Nicolas Pépé. The attacking trio of the Elephants therefore changes completely.
22:53 – Coman calls for the penalty
While he had entered the Ivorian penalty area, Kingsley Coman is slightly unbalanced and asks for a penalty but the Portuguese referee of the meeting does not flinch and signals to the 22 players that the game can continue.
22:52 – 10 minutes left
We entered the last 10 minutes of this France – Ivory Coast at the Vélodrome. Neither of the two teams manage to take the advantage in this match which has gradually fallen into a false rhythm.
22:46 – Double change for the Blues
Didier Deschamps makes two new changes in this France – Ivory Coast. Wissam Ben Yedder replaces Christopher Nkunku while Marseille’s Matteo Guendouzi will replace Antoine Griezmann. Patrice Beaumelle took the opportunity to bring out Ibrahim Sangaré who was replaced by Paul Akouokou.
22:43 – 20 minutes left to play
This France – Ivory Coast is almost coming to an end. There are 20 minutes left and the Blues are still held in check by Elephants who are still not weakening.
22:39 – Bailly gives up his place
First change for Patrice Beaumelle in this France – Ivory Coast. The Manchester United defender gives way to Kossounou.
22:35 – What a fabulous save from Sangaré!
How did that ball not go in? After an excellent cross from Coman in the race of Griezmann, the striker of the France team falls on a particularly inspired Sangaré who achieves the stop of this France – Côte d’Ivoire.
22:33 – Game time
It’s game time at OM’s Vélodrome stadium. The Blues are held in check by the Elephants in this France – Ivory Coast. Olivier Giroud responded to Nicolas Pépé’s goal.
22:32 – Saliba gets a standing ovation
Every time he touches the ball in this France – Ivory Coast, William Saliba receives the ovation from the Vélodrome stadium.
22:31 – William Saliba enters the game
First selection in his stadium! The story is beautiful and it is that of OM defender William Saliba. The new French international came into play in place of Raphael Varane.
22:29 – Aurier’s missile!
What a powerful strike sent by Aurier! Fortunately for the Blues, Hugo Lloris is vigilant and rejects the attempt of his former teammate on the side of Tottenham.
22:26 – Matteo Guendouzi and Wissam Ben Yedder warm up
There could soon be changes in this France – Ivory Coast. After William Saliba, Matteo Guendouzi and Wissam Ben Yedder left to warm up.
22:22 – Nice flight from Lloris
Hugo Lloris must work to repel the beautiful strike from the Ivorian side Konan after another loss of the ball from Griezmann.
22:22 – Kingsley Coman takes his chance
Just after Konan’s shot, it’s Bayern winger Kingsley Coman who attempts a shot on the right side but his ball is deflected for a corner by Konan.