Désiré Doué brace powers France past Colombia
France rounded off their March international break with a confident and convincing win over Colombia in Landover, underlining both their depth and attacking promise just two and a half months before the World Cup. With wholesale changes from the side that defeated Brazil days earlier, Didier Deschamps handed opportunities to several fringe players — and was rewarded with an energetic, clinical display.
The standout performer was undoubtedly Désiré Doué, who scored his first two senior international goals in a breakout performance. The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder opened the scoring on the half-hour mark, finishing off a sharp attacking move, before doubling his tally early in the second half to effectively put the game beyond Colombia’s reach. His composure and directness offered a timely reminder of the emerging talent pushing for inclusion in Deschamps’ final 26-man squad.
Between Doué’s two strikes, Marcus Thuram added France’s second goal just before half-time, ending a lenghty run without scoring for the national team. France’s midfield and attacking units feature the likes of Man City's Rayan Cherki and Monao's Maghnes Akliouche, displayed fluidity and creativity throughout, consistently troubling a Colombian side that struggled to cope with the visitors’ intensity. Cherki, in particular, impressed with his unpredictability and technical quality between the lines.
Colombia did manage a late consolation through Luis Campaz, but it did little to dampen what was an otherwise dominant French performance. Behind the scenes, the match also served as a valuable logistical rehearsal ahead of the summer tournament, with travel and adaptation across multiple US venues forming part of the preparation.
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