Euro 2024 favorites France beat Luxembourg 3-0 in an international friendly on Wednesday with superstar striker Kylian Mbappé on the score sheet.
In the tournament that starts in Germany next Friday, France are in Group D with Netherlands, Austria and Poland, all far more challenging rivals on paper than Luxembourg, who however stood firm until late in the first half.
With a third goal in four games for France, Randal Kolo Muani scored a soft header on 43 minutes after a sweet center from Mbappé, while Marseille defender Jonathan Clauss fired a scorcher into the top corner on 70 minutes to make it 2-0.
The biggest cheer of the evening came however when substitute Bradley Barcola waltzed around the visiting defense to set Mbappé up on 85 minutes with the Real Madrid bound forward slamming home with conviction.
Kylian Mbappé wears a t-shirt in tribute to a deceased relative.
Deschamps noted that the performance did Mbappé good, stating that Kylian is a great leader and the team needs him at his best. Mbappé had looked off form in his previous two games for France.
The 33-year-old Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) based holding midfielder N’Golo Kante got his first run out since June 2022 and left the pitch exhausted midway through the second half after putting in a solid performance supporting both defense and attack.
Deschamps remarked that Mbappé was as good as ever and did himself proud.
Mike Maignan was hardly tested in the France goal with his defense also enjoying a relatively quiet evening.
France were given hearty support at the match held at Metz, who were relegated from the French top flight in a play off with Saint Etienne, who climbed back into the top flight on Sunday.
Didier Deschamps’ men take on Canada Sunday in Bordeaux, before their Euro 2024 opener June 17 in Dusseldorf against Austria.
With AFP
