Thanks to a goal from Benjamin Pavard, the Blues won their second qualifying match for Euro 2024, in Ireland (1-0). After having shone against the Netherlands (4-0), Didier Deschamps’ players have six points after two matches, and occupy the head of their group. Relaunched by Didier Deschamps in Dublin, the downgraded defender Benjamin Pavard came out of his box to pierce the defensive curtain of the Irish (1-0) and record his resurrection after being dismissed from the World Cup by the coach.
The 26-year-old Northerner was to begin to find the long, very long time on the French bench. But after seven games without playing, he was able to grab the outstretched hand of Deschamps and be decisive, if not brilliant in the game. In the 50th minute, he appeared to intercept a pass from Josh Cullen, brought the ball into a good position and unleashed a dry shot which, after grazing the back of an opponent, lodged beautifully on the lower part of the crossbar before returning. Something to awaken the sweet memory of his magical volley against Argentina at the 2018 World Cup…
The Blues needed this unexpected inspiration to finally make a difference in a game where they struggled to be dangerous. The net shook, on the right side, on the first shot on target of the game!
In the euphoria of his third international goal, the first since November 2020, Pavard rushed towards a corner post to celebrate his jewel of a long slide, before hitting his chest like a warrior. The celebration had a strong taste of liberation for the Munich resident, cheered by nearly 3,000 French supporters massed in a corner of the Aviva Stadium.
Former coach of Deschamps, the No. 2 of the Blues suddenly slipped in the hierarchy of right backs after the first match of the World Cup in Qatar against Australia (4-1), which he started. Jules Koundé donned the starting clothes in Qatar, replaced by the novice Axel Disasi, axial training defender.
The coach had little taste for his performance against the Socceroos, and even less for the attitude of the 2018 world champion after. According to several media, Pavard refused the criticisms formulated by the staff against him, which ended up condemning him.
The boss of the Blues let him marinate in purgatory for four months, as an undeclared sanction, but he nevertheless chose to select him for the recovery in March, with a substitute status to start. “I already talked a lot (with Pavard) before, during and after the World Cup. We’re not going to go back on it, it’s the past, the important thing is ahead, that with his club he maintains a high level of performance, with versatility,” Deschamps tried to evacuate before the start of qualifying. for Euro-2024.
With the daily Le Parisien, the technician had been more talkative before. “What player, at some point in his career, hasn’t been questioned? “, he had declared. “Overnight, you don’t put a cross on someone. It is up to me and my staff to judge Benjamin against the competition. »
By aligning him from the start in Dublin, Deschamps revived one of his most capped players and maintained a form of emulation on the right side of the defense, where Koundé was in an armchair. In the 81st minute, the coach brought out Pavard to offer him rest and a long hug, under the eye of the cameras.
Beyond his goal, Pavard did not show much, however, like his partners overall, less inspired and better contained than Friday against the Netherlands (4-0). The Munich player only barely crossed and he received a warning very early (22nd), which may have slowed him down in his offensive expression. But his goal has great value for France, first in their qualifying group before more affordable deadlines in June against Greece and Gibraltar.
