In a remarkable display, Ivory Coast delivered a shocking 2-1 victory over France in a World Cup preparatory match. The game took place at Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes on a Thursday evening.
Match Highlights
- Guéla Doué: Scored one goal and assisted the other.
- Amad Diallo: Scored the match-winning goal, converting Doué’s low cross with six minutes remaining.
- Rayan Cherki: Opened the scoring for France just before halftime, beating the goalkeeper, Yahia Fofana.
Key Performances
Yahia Fofana was notably active in goal for Ivory Coast, making crucial saves against Kylian Mbappé and Michael Olise. Doué equalized for Ivory Coast eight minutes into the second half after receiving a pass from Nicolas Pépé.
Coach and Team Notes
The match was particularly significant for Guéla Doué as his brother, Désiré Doué, is part of the French squad. Fans showed their appreciation for French coach Didier Deschamps, whose tenure since 2012 is coming to an end after the World Cup.
Deschamps’ lineup featured several key players, including Ousmane Dembélé and Lucas Hernandez, all of whom were on the bench initially. Hernandez, Warren Zaïre-Emery, and Bradley Barcola later entered the game as substitutes.
Upcoming Matches
France is set to play its final warm-up match against Northern Ireland on Monday in Lille. Their World Cup campaign kicks off against Senegal in New Jersey on June 16. Meanwhile, Ivory Coast will face Ecuador in Philadelphia on June 14.
Other World Cup Preparations
In a separate match, Spain was held to a 1-1 draw by Iraq. Spain’s Ferran Torres scored first, but Merchas Doski equalized before halftime.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente anticipates the return of forward Lamine Yamal for their match against Cape Verde on June 15. Spain will also play against Peru in a final warm-up match in Mexico.
Iraq’s World Cup opener is scheduled against Norway in Massachusetts on June 16.
