2024-01-18 19:55:51
Nikola Karabatic INA FASSBENDER / AFP
The French player’s 289th goal in a Euro, the composure of the Blues or even the parades of Dominik Kuzmanovic… Find out what to remember from the French success over Croatia (34-32) this Thursday.
TOPS
Nikola Karabatic, at the top of the Euro
The Icelandic Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson has found his master. By scoring 5 goals this Thursday against Croatia, Nikola Karabatic overtook him at the top of the ranking of the best scorers in the history of the Euro by reaching 289 units. At 39 years old, the performance is remarkable, and will obviously please the player’s mother. “Three days ago, after the match against Switzerland, my mother called me and she told me that I had to score 8 goals,” confided the player to BeIN Sport. “I told her: mom, don’t put pressure on me, I just want to win this euro, I don’t care about the goals. She then shouts at me to tell me that I had to score 8 goals to become top scorer in the history of the Euro. Well, in the end, I still listened to it because I scored 4 against Germany and 4 or 5 this evening, I don’t know anymore. She sent me good energy.” However, this record could quickly be threatened by the Dane Mikkel Hansen, author of 15 goals in four matches during this Euro and who stands at 275 goals.
French composure
During the last quarter of an hour, all the elements came together to make overly sensitive nerves crack. A very hostile public – to the point of sending cups and other projectiles onto the French bench -, a hot opposing goalkeeper, a Croatian team which kept coming back in waves… However, even tossed around, the blue ship never gave the impression of really losing direction. “Confident of its strength” in the words of Nikola Karabatic, the French team was able to keep its back and carry out the decisive actions needed during the last ten minutes. Namely two interceptions signed Dylan Nahi and Nedim Remili, as well as two pivotal goals scored by Nicolas Tournat, a real luxury replacement in this well-established French collective.
Dominik Kuzmanovic shook the Blues
Entering during the first period in the relay of a Matej Mandic pierced by the opposing arrows, Dominik Kuzmanovic was not far from reversing the situation in the second half and offering an improbable victory to his team. The Croatian goalkeeper made numerous saves – 13 in total for a percentage of 42% – including a gigantic point-blank save against Dika Mem at the end of the match which gave his team hope. In vain. But at only 21 years old, there is no doubt that he has made a mark for the future.
FLOPS
French goalkeepers in the tough
The performance of the Croatian goalkeeper, by contrast, also highlighted the failure of the last French ramparts. In particular during a disastrous first act with only 10% saves, including 2 out of 14 for a Rémi Desbonnet who has struggled, since the start of the Euro, has found regularity even if he was brilliant during the last quarter of an hour against Germany two days ago. Samir Bellahcene also needed time to distinguish himself. But with six saves, including one on a seven-meter throw against Mario Sostaric who suffered his first failure of the Euro after 21 successful shots, he did a little better than his comrade. Without however managing to be truly decisive at the end of the match.
The behavior of Croatian fans
Frustrated by the errors of their favorites, the Croatian supporters installed behind the French bench behaved in an unacceptable manner. You can read the full article by clicking here.
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