France had to shake off an unexpected early setback but eventually wrapped up their FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign with a steady 3–1 win over Azerbaijan, even though they’d already secured top spot in Group D before kick-off after they defeated Ukraine 4-nil in their last World Cup qualification fixture. It wasn’t exactly the start Didier Deschamps had in mind.
Softfootball expected France to enjoy a very easy evening and even predicted a 3-nil victory in the pre-game report, but Azerbaijan wasted absolutely no time making history. Just four minutes in, Ceyhun Nuriyev spun away from Khéphren Thuram and slipped in Rahman Dashdamirov, who squared the ball neatly for Ranat Dadashov.
The forward beat debutant goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier with a clinical first-time hit, giving Azerbaijan their first-ever goal against France. Khayal Aliyev almost made it worse when he drilled a shot wide, but France slowly started to wake up, with Christopher Nkunku threatening a couple of times.
Les Bleus finally drew level in the 17th minute. A well-worked move ended with Jean-Philippe Mateta climbing above everyone to nod in Malo Gusto’s cross.
They thought they’d scored again shortly after, but Gusto’s strike brushed Nkunku’s arm on the way in and VAR wiped it out. Nkunku had another header miss the mark before France eventually turned the game around on the half-hour.
This time, Gusto connected nicely with Thuram’s pass and cut the ball back for Maghnes Akliouche, who smashed in his first goal for France.
Thuram thought he had one too before halftime, but Hugo Ekitike’s handball in the build-up cancelled it. In the second half, a bit of chaos saw Magomedaliyev push the ball into his own net after Thuram got a knee to it to make it 3 in favour of France.
The rest of the match drifted a bit, with France comfortably in control. Nkunku had a few half-chances, Mateta went close, and Warren Zaïre-Emery saw a strike deflected wide, while Ekitike completely miscued a decent opening. Bayramov made a good save from Thuram in the 73rd minute, but by then the contest had really settled down.
After the encounter, France, via their official X account, uploaded a video of the team appreciating the fans that have been there with them all the way.
Watch the video below:
France finish the qualifiers with five wins from six , a strong end and a useful reminder that even a heavily rotated French squad can grind out results. Azerbaijan, meanwhile, remain at the bottom of Group D with just a single point.
