Spain and France put their best foot forward.
Thriller in Stuttgart shows how game should be played.
I watched Spain’s spectacular 5-4 win over France in a bar in Barcelona last night. The noise ebbed and flowed in rhythm with the game’s fortunes. The hubbub was pierced twice by a siren going off announcing a discount on certain drinks, triggering a rush to the bar. There was much to celebrate, not least the quality of the football. Sirens certainly rang for France for an hour.
There was a smattering of those supporting France, including a man from the Ivory Coast perched at the bar going through all sorts of emotions. Inevitably it was mainly a Spanish audience and overwhelmingly Barca fans, judging by their joyous reaction to every velvety touch of Lamine Yamal and Pedri and censorious response to any involvement of Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid and France.
Nerves spread following the arrival of 21-year-old Rayan Cherki, making his France debut and almost crowning one of the great comebacks. Cherki will have excited Manchester City fans even more if their club land the Lyons winger, who can play right, but also left and offers an option at No 10. He’s two-footed, full of tricks and will bring a welcome unpredictability to Pep Guardiola’s side.
Cherki almost rescued France and he certainly rescued Didier Deschamps from a more critical response. This morning’s L’Equipe carries a front-page photo of Cherki in full stride but also aimed a dig at Didier Deschamps with a sub-head of “Un perdition sur le plan defensif”. Hell for the defensive plan. Attack more.