France’s reserve team logically prevailed in Azerbaijan (3-1) after a poor start, but few players staked a claim on Sunday in Baku to conclude the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Places are at a premium to complete the squad list in May. Some young internationals seized their opportunity, with a starting eleven entirely refreshed after the victory against Ukraine (4-0) that secured their place at the World Cup.
Maghnes Akliouche (30th minute) opened his account for the national team, and Malo Gusto provided two assists, one for the Monaco player and another for Jean-Philippe Mateta (17th minute).
The Crystal Palace forward is a long way from the World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada (June 11-July 19). He took advantage of numerous absences to experience the national team (Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Marcus Thuram…), but he scored his second goal in three appearances.
His goal, a powerful diving header from a Gusto cross, perfectly illustrates his profile as a centre-forward, which led Didier Deschamps to call him up.
Captain Kylian Mbappe, who returned to Madrid to rest his right ankle after securing qualification for France with a brace against Ukraine on Thursday (4-0), meant that “for the attacking players, this will be a match to score points and rack up stats,” warned stand-in captain Ibrahima Konate.
Khephren Thuram thought he’d scored
In this inconsequential match, Akliouche tried to brighten up the play before being replaced by Rayan Cherki (62nd minute), who disappointed against Ukraine in a central playmaker role. Hugo Ekitike, after a “thunderous” entrance according to the coach against Ukraine, where he scored his first goal, was less prominent.
Finally, Christopher Nkunku produced a match that was too neutral, with an off-target header (27th minute), against a clearly inferior opponent, but one that never gave up in their Tofiq Bahramov Stadium, where the enthusiastic crowd even did the “wave” at 3-1.
Another hopeful for the great American journey this summer, but in midfield, Khephren Thuram really thought he had scored his first goal for France too, but video arbitration denied him this pleasure once (41st minute), then he was frustrated a second time when the goal for 3-1 from one of his shots was ultimately attributed to goalkeeper Shakhrudin Magomedaliyev (45th minute).
But his partnership with Warren Zaire-Emery generally controlled the Azerbaijanis.
On the other hand, Lucas Chevalier was unable to make a mark on his first appearance, as he is encountering some difficulties in fully convincing at Paris Saint-Germain.
He didn’t remain unbeaten for more than three minutes because France completely botched their start to the match, as if they were already on vacation, and conceded the first goal in Azerbaijan‘s history against France as early as the 4th minute.
Renat Dadashov scored too easily in the heart of a passive defence, after a run by Rahman Dashdamirov that Malo Gusto failed to contain. The Chelsea right-back redeemed himself by delivering a good cross for Mateta, who quickly equalised, and *the French team* recovered.
But both Chevalier and Gusto have a secure place in the France hierarchy, as understudies to Mike Maignan and Jules Kounde. France’s next generation didn’t show much more in a subdued second half. It’s not certain that it will be enough to earn a place on the list.