WCQ: Blessing in disguise? Mbappe’s injury for magician's return?

Even before the match against Azerbaijan, much of the talk surrounded the return of Florian Thauvin, once considered one of the world’s brightest talents, who had been recalled to the national team by Didier Deschamps. Everything seemed to align perfectly tonight — following Kylian Mbappe’s injury late in the game, Thauvin came off the bench and, within seconds of stepping onto the pitch, scored a stunning goal to seal France’s victory over a resilient Azerbaijani side.

France went into the break with a narrow 1–0 lead after dominating most of the first half and finally breaking through in stoppage time.

The hosts started aggressively, with Kylian Mbappe nearly finding the net in the opening minute — his shot from the edge of the box flew just over the bar. In the 11th minute, Mbappe created another big chance following a neat team move, firing a powerful shot that was well saved by Azerbaijan goalkeeper Mahammadaliyev.

France continued to press. In the 18th minute, Michael Olise delivered a fine cross to Dayot Upamecano, who met it with his head but failed to hit the target. Mbappe tried again in the 31st minute, but his effort was too weak to trouble the keeper.

As halftime approached, Hugo Ekitike went on a strong solo run in the 43rd minute, but his low shot from the edge of the box lacked power.

Just when it seemed Azerbaijan would reach the break unscathed, Mbappe struck in stoppage time (45+2’). The French captain weaved through midfield and the opposing defense with a brilliant solo run — aided slightly by Ekitike — before calmly slotting the ball past Mahammadaliyev to give France a deserved 1–0 lead at halftime. The goal is HERE!

France continued to dominate after the break, creating several clear chances before finally doubling their lead.

The first opportunity came in the 49th minute, when Hugo Ekitike made an excellent run down the left flank and fired a shot that struck the post — a moment that nearly put France two goals ahead.

In the 62nd minute, Kylian Mbappe tried his luck once again, cutting in from the left and unleashing a powerful shot that narrowly missed the target. Just three minutes later, in the 65th minute, the French captain found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper after a quick counterattack, but a last-ditch block from an Azerbaijani defender denied what seemed a certain goal.

France kept pressing, and in the 68th minute, Marcus Thuram almost made it 2–0 with a first-time strike, only for Mahammadaliyev to produce another brilliant save.

However, the resistance finally broke a minute later. In the 69th minute, Adrien Rabiot rose highest inside the box to meet a cross from the left and directed a precise header past the Azerbaijani keeper to make it 2–0 for France — a goal that sealed a comfortable victory for the home side. The goal is HERE!

The home side sealed the win late on. In the 84th minute, substitute Florian Thauvin, who had just replaced the injured Mbappe, scored a stunning volley after controlling a cross beautifully, sending the ball past the helpless goalkeeper for France’s third goal of the night. The goal is HERE!

WC QUALIFIERS - EUROPE

Thursday

Finland - Lithuania 2-1 (0-1)

/Kallman 48, Markhiev 55 - Sirvys 25/

Austria - San Marino 10-0 (6-0)

/Schmid 7, Arnautovic 8, 47, 83, 84, Gregoritsch 24, Posch 30, 42, Laimer 45, Wurmbrand 76/

Belarus - Denmark 0-6 (0-4)

/Froholdt 14, Hojlund 19, 45, Dorgu 45+6, Dreyer 66, 78/

Cyprus - B&H 2-2 (1-2)

/Laifis 45+1, Pittas 90+6 pen - Katic 10, Michail 36 og/

Czech Republic - Croatia 0-0

Faroe Islands - Montenegro 4-0 (2-0)

/Sorensen 16, 55, Frederiksberg 36, 72 pen/

Malta - Netherlands 0-4 (0-1)

/Gakpo 12 pen, 48 pen, Reijnders 57, Depay 90+3/

Scotland - Greece 3-1 (0-0)

/Christie 64, Ferguson 80, Dykes 90+3 - Tsimikas 62/

Friday

Kazakhstan - Liechtenstein 4-0 (2-0)

/Kenzhebek 26, 59, Zaynutdinov 28, Kasym 81/

Belgium - North Macedonia 0-0

France - Azerbaijan 3-0 (1-0)

/Mbappe 45+2, Rabiot 69, Thauvin 84/

Germany - Luxembourg 4-0 (2-0)

/Raum 12, Kimmich 21 pen, 50, Gnabry 48/

Iceland - Ukraine 3-5 (1-3)

/Ellertsson 35, Gudmundsson 59, 75 - Malinovskyi 14, 45+5, Gutsulyak 45, Kaliuzhnyi 85, Ocheretko 89/

Kosovo - Slovenia 0-0

Northern Ireland - Slovakia 2-0 (1-0)

/Hrosovsky 18 og, Hume 81/

Sweden - Switzerland 0-2 (0-0)

/Xhaka 65 pen, Manzambi 90+4/

Saturday

16.00: (1.55) Latvia (3.60) Andorra (7.75)

19.00: (1.37) Hungary (4.80) Armenia (9.00)

19.00: (1.20) Norway (7.25) Israel (12.0)

21.45: (11.0) Bulgaria (6.00) Turkey (1.25)

21.45: (25.0) Estonia (11.0) Italy (1.08)

21.45: (1.15) Portugal (7.75) R.Ireland (19.0)

21.45: (1.75) Serbia (3.60) Albania (5.60)

21.45: (1.12) Spain (10.0) Georgia (16.0)

***odds are subject to change***