Franz Beckenbauer may soon have company. Didier Deschamps’ bid to become only the second man to win the World Cup as both captain and manager has gathered pace. First Argentina and then Uruguay have been beaten as France have turned themselves into the scourge of South America.
Les Bleus have found different ways of winning and different match-winners. Kylian Mbappe eviscerated Argentina. Antoine Griezmann eliminated Uruguay, registering a goal and an assist, even if he barely celebrated his strike. It may have been from a combination of sympathy and surprise. Fernando Muslera, the goalkeeping stalwart of Uruguay’s fine decade, spilt a tame 25-yard shot. It looped up over him and in.
It meant Uruguay, who had conceded only once in 2018, were breached twice in 22 minutes. France’s opener was a moment of redemption for one of a generation who have promised more than they have delivered on the international stage. Four years ago, Raphael Varane lost a header to Mats Hummels when the German scored the lone goal of a World Cup quarter-final. Yesterday, Varane was the centre-back to strike.
While free-flowing football knocked out Argentina, set-piece expertise was required against their neighbours. Uruguay were obdurate opponents for France. At times, they were also unpleasant ones, nasty and niggly, goading and provoking. They swarmed around the French. Early fouls on Olivier Giroud and Lucas Hernandez offered an indication of Uruguay’s approach. Luis Suarez, with an elbow to Benjamin Pavard’s ribs, offered most menace.
Yet Uruguay’s abrasive approach cost them. Rodrigo Bentancur was cautioned for bringing down Corentin Tolisso. The greater punishment was still to be exacted, though. Griezmann delivered the free kick, Varane met it with a glancing header that beat Muslera. France’s first attempt on target yielded a goal.
Uruguay trailed for the first time in Russia but responded almost immediately. Hugo Lloris produced one of the saves of the Cup when plunging to his right to repel Martin Caceres’ header. Still Uruguay could have scored, but Diego Godin lashed the rebound wide. Then came Muslera’s mistake and, while Uruguay had kept Kylian Mbappe relatively quiet, with Diego Laxalt policing him and others riling him, Oscar Tabarez’s side had too much to do without one of their trump cards.