Christopher Nkunku celebrates after scoring his first international goal for France.
image credit: Chelsea FC
Christopher Nkunku marked his return to the France national team with his first international goal, helping secure a 4-1 victory over Israel in their UEFA Nations League clash.
The win brings France within reach of Group A2 leaders Italy, who drew with Belgium earlier in the day. This fixture was crucial for Les Bleus as they aimed to re-establish their position in the group standings with six points from three games.
The match began with France taking an early lead in the 7th minute, thanks to Eduardo Camavinga. The Real Madrid midfielder scored with a low, curling shot following a mistake by Israel’s goalkeeper, Omri Glazer.
Israel, however, responded when Omri Gandelman equalized in the 24th minute, heading home a well-timed pass from Oscar Gloukh.
Just four minutes later, Nkunku made his impact felt, expertly maneuvering past Israel’s defenders to reclaim the lead for France. His goal was a significant moment for the Chelsea star, who had not appeared for his country in nearly ten months.
Christopher Nkunku; what a goal.#ISRFRA pic.twitter.com/jwtmwh7Fqf
— priiest (@cfcpriiest) October 10, 2024
As the game progressed, France demonstrated its depth in the absence of key players.
With Kylian Mbappe absent due to club obligations with Real Madrid, and Antoine Griezmann recently retired from international football, Didier Deschamps relied on newer talents to step up. Michael Olise, starting in Griezmann’s usual spot, displayed promise but was unable to make a decisive impact.
Despite these changes, the French squad displayed strong cohesion. Matteo Guendouzi extended France’s lead late in the second half with a powerful shot from outside the box, and Bradley Barcola sealed the victory with a curling strike in the final minutes.
The match also underscored the challenges faced by the Israeli team, which has been forced to play home games in Hungary due to security concerns amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
These complications added a unique backdrop to the Nations League encounter, with Israel striving to maintain competitive form under challenging circumstances.
This victory not only reflects France’s resilience amid squad transitions but also solidifies their pursuit of Italy at the top of Group A2.
As Les Bleus prepare for their upcoming match against Belgium, Nkunku’s return and new contributions from players like Guendouzi and Barcola signal promising developments for the team’s future.