International Friendlies·29 Mar, 07:00 pm
1–3
Full Time
HT 0–2
Lexora HeatWARM
0.0
HEAT
T-scores relative to mean of 50
G.Trends Spike
45
G.Trends Share
52
Stats Deviation
57
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International Friendlies·29 Mar, 07:00 pm
T-scores relative to mean of 50
Possession
Columbia4-2-3-1SUBSTITUTES
Columbia
FuryColombia's comprehensive defeat to a rotated French side, coupled with widespread fan criticism regarding the team's lack of competitiveness and poor performance, led to significant anger and frustration.
France
ReliefFrance secured a comfortable victory while resting key players, showcasing their impressive squad depth and extending their unbeaten run, which brought satisfaction and confidence ahead of the World Cup.
Désiré Doué, the 20-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward, announced his arrival on the international stage with a stunning brace against Colombia. His opening goal in the 29th minute, a deflected strike from outside the box, gave France the lead. He followed it up in the 56th minute with a composed finish after a swift counter-attack, showcasing his predatory instincts and contributing significantly to France's dominant performance. These were Doué's first senior international goals, highlighting the immense talent emerging within the French squad.
Marcus Thuram doubled France's lead in the 41st minute with a powerful header from a precise cross by Maghnes Akliouche. This goal marked Thuram's first for the national team since November 2023, ending a scoring drought and reaffirming his importance to the squad. The goal was a testament to France's fluid attacking play and ability to create chances from various areas of the pitch, even with a heavily rotated lineup. The combination play between Thuram and Doué, particularly for the latter's second goal, demonstrated excellent chemistry.
Trailing by three goals, Colombia managed to pull one back in the 77th minute through Jáminton Campaz, who slotted home a shot after an assist from Jefferson Lerma. This consolation goal provided a brief moment of cheer for the large Colombian crowd in attendance. However, the overall performance left much to be desired, with Colombian fans expressing significant frustration and anger online. Comments ranged from calling the team's play "shameful" to criticizing key players like James Rodríguez, underscoring the deep disappointment following the defeat to a rotated French side.
Colombia faces significant challenges ahead of the World Cup, with this defeat to France's 'B team' exposing defensive vulnerabilities and a lack of attacking cohesion. Fan sentiment is overwhelmingly negative, with strong criticism directed at key players like James Rodríguez and concerns about the team's competitiveness on the global stage. For France, the picture is much brighter. They continued their winning streak, demonstrating incredible squad depth by comfortably beating Colombia with a completely changed lineup from their previous match against Brazil. This performance has solidified their status as strong World Cup favorites, with manager Didier Deschamps now facing a 'happy problem' of selecting from an abundance of top-tier talent.
The most striking aspect of this match was France's extraordinary squad depth. Manager Didier Deschamps made 11 changes from the team that beat Brazil, yet his 'reserve' side delivered a commanding performance against Colombia. Désiré Doué's brace and Marcus Thuram's goal highlighted that even France's second-string players possess world-class quality. Pundits like Frank Leboeuf lauded this 'B side' as one of the best globally, underscoring France's formidable position as they aim for back-to-back World Cup titles.
Despite a significant turnout of Colombian supporters, the team's comprehensive 3-1 loss to a rotated French squad ignited a firestorm of criticism among fans. Social media was awash with comments expressing shame and frustration over the team's perceived lack of competitiveness, with particular ire directed at star player James Rodríguez. This defeat, coming just before the World Cup, has amplified concerns about the team's readiness and ability to perform at the highest level, leaving fans deeply disappointed and worried about their prospects.
France's back-to-back victories against Brazil and Colombia in this international window signal a strong trajectory towards the World Cup. Coach Deschamps will now meticulously assess the performances of both his regulars and the impressive 'reserves' as he finalizes his squad. For Colombia, this defeat serves as a stark wake-up call. Rebuilding defensive solidity, enhancing attacking efficiency, and addressing the team's morale will be crucial steps if they hope to make a meaningful impact at the upcoming World Cup.
ColumbiaColumbia
FuryfrequentFrance
EcstasyfrequentFury
EcstasyRelief
