Colombia 1-3 France: Les Bleus earn a comfortable win as Doue nets double

Desire Doue scored his first two senior international goals as France sent a message to their FIFA World Cup rivals with an impressive 3-1 victory over Colombia.

Match Report

The two managers took contrasting approaches to this friendly fixture in Landover, Maryland, with Los Cafeteros boss Nestor Lorenzo making just two changes to the side that started Thursday’s 2-1 defeat by Croatia, while Les Bleus head coach Didier Deschamps named an entirely different lineup to the one that began their 2-1 win over Brazil that same day.

The yellow shirts of Colombia filled the stands of Northwest Stadium, and they were almost treated to a spectacular fifth-minute opener, when Richard Rios’ long-range strike flew inches wide of the post. 

Les Bleus soon took control, and they made their possession count in the 29th minute when they went ahead from their first shot on target, as Paris Saint-Germain forward Doue, 20, lashed home a deflected effort from the edge of the box that wrong-footed Alvaro Montero.

Marcus Thuram then doubled the lead four minutes before half-time, the striker rising to head Maghnes Akliouche’s pinpoint cross in off the crossbar for his first France goal since November 2023.

Thuram and Doue both had chances to further increase the lead before the interval, although Daniel Munoz could have halved the deficit when he dinked just wide at the other end.

Lorenzo made a triple substitution at half-time in an attempt to change the momentum, as Gustavo Puerta, Andres Gomez, and Jhon Cordoba replaced Rios, Jhon Arias, and Luis Suarez.

Colombia were almost handed a lifeline four minutes into the second half when Luis Diaz latched onto Warren Zaire-Emery’s misplaced pass, but Maxence Lacroix - making his first international start - recovered to make a vital challenge.

That moment became even more significant 11 minutes later, when France counter-attacked at pace, and Thuram squared for Doue, who squeezed his shot inside Montero’s near post.

Los Cafeteros gave themselves a glimmer of hope 13 minutes from time, when substitute Jaminton Campaz fired his first senior international goal in off the far post.

Colombia pushed for another goal, but they were unable to mount a comeback as they suffered their second successive defeat, and their fourth loss in seven matches against teams currently above them in the FIFA world rankings (W1, D2).

Kylian Mbappe came off the bench late on for Les Bleus and saw a shot cleared off the line, yet it was France’s fringe players who gave Deschamps something to think about in the final game before he names his World Cup squad, as the two-time winners extended their unbeaten run to nine games (W8, D1).

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

4' Zaire-Emery receives a pass from Cherki, but his effort deflects wide

13' Cherki provides a through pass, but Thuram is ruled offside

16' A Colombia player sends a cross into the box but Lucas Hernandez clears the ball

25' There are some conflicts between Thuram and Sanchez

27' Relaxing! Mbappe, Dembele and Olise are having fun on the bench

30' GOAL! Doue's shot takes a deflection and goes into the net! Colombia 0-1 France

42' GOAL! Thuram nets a header as Akliouche assists! Colombia 0-2 France

56' GOAL! Doue receives a comfortable cross from Thuram & nets! Colombia 0-3 France

64' Ekitike, Muani and Camavinga on, Zaire-Emery, Doue and Akliouche off

78' GOAL! Campaz fires the ball into the net! Colombia 1-3 France

80' Cherki and Thuram are replaced by Olise and Mbappe

86' Mbappe gets to the rebound but his effort is cleared by the defender

91' Match Event for Colombia vs France

Line-ups

Colombia XI: James, Mojica, Lerma, Sanchez, Álvaro Montero, Luis Suárez, Jhon Arias, Daniel Muñoz, Luis Díaz, Cabal, Richard Ríos

Subs: Ospina, C. Vargas, J. Quintero, Arias, Córdoba, Deiver Machado, Borré, Jorge Carrascal, Jhon Lucumí, Jáminton Campaz, Johan Carbonero, Yerson Mosquera, Kevin Castaño, Gustavo Puerta, Andrés Gómez

France XI: Digne, Brice Samba, Kante, Lucas, Thuram, Maxence Lacroix, Kalulu, Cherki, Zaire-Emery, Maghnes Akliouche, Doue

Subs: Maignan, Rabiot, Dembele, Theo, Mbappe, Konate, Tchouameni, Muani, Camavinga, Olise, Lucas Chevalier, Hugo Ekitiké, Gusto