The Crystal Palace star was at it once more for his nation in Azerbaijan…
France got here from behind to finish their World Cup qualifying campaign with a 3-1 win over Azerbaijan in Baku, overturning an early scare to complete the group in type.
A youthful French facet, that includes senior debuts for goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier and midfielder Maghnes Akliouche, made a sluggish begin and fell behind after simply 4 minutes.
Azerbaijan broke down the left via Rahman Dasdamirov, whose first-time cross picked out Renat Dadashov on the close to submit.
The striker reacted sharply to information the ball dwelling, changing into the primary Azerbaijani participant ever to attain in opposition to France.
The hosts continued to threaten within the opening levels, with Khayal Aliyev and Emin Mahmudov each testing the guests throughout a vigorous spell.
However France step by step settled and levelled the match after 17 minutes. Malo Gusto, already outstanding down the fitting, surged ahead to satisfy Akliouche’s slide-rule move and delivered a cross for Jean-Philippe Mateta to rise highest and head in on the far submit.
Gusto’s affect solely grew as France turned the match round. After Christopher Nkunku had a end dominated out for handball following a VAR examine, the Chelsea full-back claimed his second help on the half-hour.
Warren Zaire-Emery launched him with a sweeping diagonal move, and Gusto once more supplied a teasing ball throughout purpose that Akliouche transformed from shut vary to make it 2-1.
France thought they’d a 3rd when Marcus Thuram tapped in after one other scramble within the field, however VAR intervened for a second time to chalk the purpose off for handball.
The guests ultimately did prolong their lead on the stroke of half-time in chaotic vogue. A nook from the fitting triggered confusion, and Azerbaijan goalkeeper Shahrudin Mahammadaliyev misjudged a punch, inadvertently turning the unfastened ball into his personal web.
The second half unfolded with far much less urgency, although France continued to create alternatives. Nkunku, Cherki and Theo Hernandez all went shut, whereas Thuram twice flashed efforts off course as Didier Deschamps’ rotated facet appeared for a fourth purpose.
Azerbaijan battled however struggled to rediscover their early rhythm, making a sequence of modifications that disrupted their form and attacking risk.
A stoppage for a pitch invader briefly halted play, however the outcome by no means appeared doubtful. France managed the closing levels with management as they noticed out the ultimate minutes to finish their qualifying campaign.
