The 21-year-old, called up after injuries to other French attackers, scored after only eight minutes on the pitch to put the gloss on an easy win
Lille attacking midfielder Jonathan Ikone marked his international debut for France with a goal in a 4-1 Euro 2020 qualifier win over Albania, a moment that he described as a “dream come true”.
“I said that my dream was to bring things to the team,” Ikone told M6 in France after the game.
“Defensively first and why not offensively if everything goes well. A dream that has come true.
“Frankly, I’m really happy, I hope it’s going to continue. The integration [with the squad] went really well, there were players who talked to me, helped me settle in as quickly as possible, and the coach has made me feel at ease.
“It’s never easy because the opposing team has continued to fight.”
The coach who helped Ikone settle, Didier Deschamps, was delighted for the youngster.
Deschamps said that the Lille man was one of several young Frenchmen he hoped to incorporate into the team.
“For Jonathan, his first selection is always remembered,” the coach, who has won the World Cup as both player and manager, told M6. "But he'll remember it a bit more with a goal, that's good. There are young people who are there, whom I gradually incorporate.”