3: 0! Mbappe showed his super personal ability + 13 goals in 10 games, Thauvin volleyed, France won 3 consecutive victories

Due to the UEFA Nations League semi-finals and finals in June, the schedule of several wealthy teams in the world preliminaries was delayed by half a beat; this was the case with France, which won one championship and one runner-up in the past two World Cups. Last month, France officially started its World Cup preliminaries and won two consecutive victories. In the early morning of October 11, France ushered in a match against Azerbaijan in the third round. Mbappe performed a wonderful solo breakthrough, Thauvin scored his first goal to return to the national team, and the French team easily defeated Azerbaijan 3:0.

Azerbaijan only scored 1 point in the first two rounds and ranked at the bottom of the group; this time the French team's roster has several changes. Dembele and Barcola both missed due to injuries. Crystal Palace's Mateta was selected for the first time. Thauvin returned to the national team after 6 years and 3 months. However, neither of them entered the starting lineup. Mbappe served as the captain and partnered with Ekitic, Olise, and Koeman in the offensive combination; Thuram Jr. and Rabiot guarded the center; Gusteau, Saliba, Upamecano, and Theo joined the defense line, and Maignan guarded the goal.

As soon as the game started, France surrounded its opponent. In the 10th minute, Mbappe played the ball at the front of the penalty area. Gusteau volleyed from the right side of the penalty area and hit the goal. The ball was saved by Mahamadaliyev. In the 25th minute, Olise's corner kick turned directly to the goal. Mahamadaliyev did not dare to carelessly push the ball out of the baseline; then Rabiot and Mbappe also completed shots, but without exception they failed to score.

In the 39th minute, young Thuram made a direct pass into the ribs, and Mbappe took advantage of the situation. Olise's low shot from a small angle was still blocked; throughout the first half, France failed to score despite the siege. In the end, it was Mbappe who stepped forward. Before halftime, Mbappe and Ekitic hit the wall and cooperated, and then passed several people in the penalty area and scored with a low shot into the far corner, 1:0! Mbappe has scored in his 10th consecutive game with the national team and club; he contributed 13 goals during this period, and he is getting closer and closer to Giroud's top scorer in team history.

In the 50th minute of the second half, Rabiot stole the ball. Ekitic succeeded in breaking through from the right and volleyed hard, but the ball hit the post and bounced out; in the 68th minute, Olise took a corner kick, and the Azerbaijani player made a clearance but did not kick it far. Mbappe's cross from the left was just right. Rabiot jumped high and shook his head to attack the goal, 2:0! However, shortly afterwards, Mbappe was injured during the fight, and Deschamps replaced him with Thauvin for safety reasons; at the same time, Mateta also made his national team debut.

In the 83rd minute, Camavinga made a direct pass from the outside of his instep. Thauwan passed the ball to the left with his back and then moved forward. Special Olympics made an inverted triangle pass from the left. Thauwan stopped the ball and scored a wonderful goal with a side hook to announce the return of the king, 3:0! In the end, France easily defeated Azerbaijan, won three consecutive group matches, and occupied the first place in the group; it was 3 points ahead of second-place Ukraine.