PLAYER RATINGS: France 1-2 Ivory Coast: Les Bleus sink in World Cup warm-up game | OneFootball

International friendly, 04/06/26

France got the final part of their World Cup preparations underway by hosting Ivory Coast in Nantes. Didier Deschamps, who was serenaded for his return to his former La Beaujoire ground, opted to give PSG’s Champions League winners at his disposal a breather.

With Bradley Barcola, Désiré Doué and Ousmane Dembélé all benched, Rayan Cherki was handed the playmaker role, between left-winger Marcus Thuram and Michael Olise on the other side. Les Bleus captain Kylian Mbappé leads the line.

France dominated possession, but they were far from clinical in the final third. Kylian Mbappé and Rayan Cherki missed big chances in the first half, whereas Ivory Coast’s best chances stemmed from Les Bleus’ unforced errors. Mike Maignan proved alert to save Aurélien Tchouaméni’s blushes after the Real Madrid midfielder was too easily dispossessed by Simon Adingra.

Ivory Coast goalkeeper Yahia Fofana was called into action more often than not, but there was nothing he could do to prevent Cherki from opening the scoring. The Manchester City playmaker recovered the ball from Ibrahima Konaté, breezed past Seko Fofana and Yan Diomandé before finding the bottom right corner.

In the second half, Deschamps proceeded to change half of his outfield players from back to front. Although his call to spread the workload within Les Bleus before the World Cup is understandable, the players struggled to strike an understanding with one another.

Yahia Fofana, who had four stops in the first half, was virtually untested. Meanwhile, Maignan was eventually beaten by Strasbourg’s Guéla Doué after some neat attacking play, made easier by Konaté’s poor defending.

Les Bleus were monotonous in their build-up play, toothless in going forward and shaky at the back. None of France’s substitutes made their mark, unlike Ivory Coast’s. Manchester United winger Amad Diallo stunned La Beaujoire with a well-taken half-volley from Guéla Doué’s cross from the right.

Didier Deschamps had never lost a warm-up game before a major tournament as France manager, but that streak ended at La Beaujoire, just as the former Nantes midfielder prepares his exit. But the 2023 AFCON winners deserved to win given France’s tepid second-half performance. Could they go on to be the World Cup’s dark horses?

France player ratings

Mike Maignan, 5

Théo Hernandez, 4

The Al-Hilal player didn’t do much to stake his claim as France’s starting left-back, defensively solid though. Replaced by Lucas Digne (4), whose stint was as unremarkable, although Diallo’s game stemmed from his side.

Dayot Upamecano, 6

Ibrahima Konaté, 3

The free agent could have used tonight’s game and Saliba’s absence to provide Deschamps with fresh doubt over France’s ideal partnership at the back. Quite the opposite happened. He looked uneasy in dealing with Diomandé’s pace and he couldn’t escape the blame for Doué’s equaliser. Replaced by Lucas Hernandez at the hour mark.

Jules Koundé, 5

Aurélien Tchouaméni, 4

The Real Madrid midfielder kept things ticking in midfield, but he could have cost France a goal if not for Maignan’s heroics. Replaced by N’Golo Kanté (5) at half-time.

Adrien Rabiot, 5

Marcus Thuram, 6

Rayan Cherki, 6

The Manchester City playmaker had, at first, a frustrating evening in Nantes. He looked off it, and his decision-making was, at best, questionable, as shown by his missed sitter at the hour mark. He made amends for it with a belter of a goal, typical Cherki.

Michael Olise, 5

Kylian Mbappé, 4

France’s captain is yet to enter his World Cup mode. He should have done better when put through on goal by Olise early on, and generally didn’t click with his teammates when going forward. Replaced by Jean-Philippe Mateta (5), whose hold-up play was interesting at times.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval