Olympics: Cherki, Kalimuendo power France
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A comprehensive performance
Thierry Henry's France Olympic squad played the first of three pre-tournament friendlies on Thursday evening in Bayonne. Facing a Paraguay side who have also qualified for Paris 2024, Henry put out a strong side which he lined up in a 4-4-2, with a strike partnership comprised of his two overage players, Olympique Lyonnais' Alexandre Lacazette, who is the squad's captain, and Jean-Philippe Mateta.
It was the visitors who went ahead at the Stade Jean-Dauger, though, with Juan Salcedo catching Castello Lukeba on the ball in the third minute. France battled valiantly to come back into the match, but would have to until the final minute of the first half to do so, with Mateta scoring from a neat through ball from his Crystal Palace teammate Michael Olise.
cherki, kalimueNdo strike off the bench
At the break, Henry rang the changes, bringing Olympique Lyonnais forward Rayan Cherki, Stade Rennais striker Arnaud Kalimuendo off the bench, among others. Amid these changes, Mateta would soon have a brace, converting a penalty won by Enzo Millot just five minutes after the restart. The choice to bring on Cherki would prove an intelligent one twenty minutes from time as he took advantage of some loose marking to make it 3-1 at the back post.
Five minutes from time, Kalimuendo would net the fourth, finishing off a fine spell of team play by stabbing home his Rennes teammate Adrien Truffert's low cross. Following the match, Henry was positive about his side's play, saying "We must remain positive, keep ball on the ground, move, go fast, let go of the ball at the right time, continue to play normally, seriously. That's what we're trying to put in place. I've seen a lot of good things and also bad things, but that's normal in a preparation match."
Henry's words will be put to the test next on Thursday as France host the Dominican Republic in Toulon, hoping to build on what was ultimately a comfortable win.
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