Rampant France – the second-string side too strong for Colombia

Perhaps Spain play the most perfect and attractive football in the world, but France are a phenomenon in their own way. Just three days after putting Brazil in their place with a star-studded lineup, France fielded a reserve team and still schooled Colombia in another friendly on U.S. soil – 1–3.

Just look at the depth on the Tricolours’ bench before the clash with the South American side… Sitting there were Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele, Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, Mike Maignan, Theo Hernandez, yet Didier Deschamps’ team never looked like it was missing anything on the pitch.

Deschamps will take 26 players to the World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, meaning some big names will be left out. We can talk about a footballing pool deep enough to form three powerful starting lineups capable of beating absolutely anyone.

Desire Doue, whose place on the plane to the World Cup is not in doubt, was the star of the evening in Washington, but the player who caught our eye was a youngster making just his seventh appearance for the senior national team of the multiple world champions.

Maghnes Akliouche is one of Monaco’s most valuable players (with a market value estimated at €50 million). Against Brazil, Deschamps gave him barely a minute on the pitch, but tonight he was handed 64 minutes against Colombia and made the most of every single one.

He was involved in the build-up to the opening goal in the 29th minute, then just before halftime delivered a perfect ball onto Marcus Thuram’s head, and for the third goal early in the second half, the right winger first won the ball back and then, with the outside of his foot, launched a counterattack that turned into the most beautiful move of the match and another goal for Doue, who broke his scoring duck for France tonight.

Players like Christopher Nkunku and Florian Thauvin, who are not in the current squad but still hope for a final call-up, could miss out precisely because of the 24-year-old Monaco man, who has seven goals and eight assists in all competitions this season.

Colombia salvaged some pride through a goal from Hamilton Campaz about twenty minutes before the end, but it was little consolation for Nestor Lorenzo’s side. Like everyone else in the stadium, they could only admire the brilliant performance of Rayan Cherki, who in his trademark style kept distributing first-time passes—flashy, no-look, and a reminder of why we all fell in love with football in the first place.

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY

France - Colombia 3-1 (2-0)

/Doue 29, 56, Thuram 41 - Campaz 77/