The French press hailed their country’s “breathtaking” performance after they recorded their second consecutive victory at the 2014 World Cup, beating Switzerland 5-2 on Friday.
Following their 3-0 victory over Honduras in the first round of matches, Les Bleus blew away their neighbours Switzerland in a match which L’Equipe described as a “magical display” and featured a side which “has all the weapons to become one of the star teams at this World Cup.”
The victory came four years to the day after the French World Cup squad went on strike in South Africa and puts them on the brink of qualification for the second round. For L’Equipe the French team’s triumph was “breathtaking” and “marked the anniversary by burying (the memory) once and for all.”
“The euphoria that they have created is proportional to what they showed with their desire, commitment, generosity, enjoyment and audacity,” wrote Fabrice Jouhaud in the French sports daily. “Make the most of this moment,” he added, as “France played in a way we have so rarely seen in the last 10 years.”
Switzerland conceded just six goals in their qualification for the finals, but the paper’s front page said that Switzerland were blown away by the “attacking verve” of the French side.
“Until now,” argued columnist Vincent Duluc, “everything has gone well. Very, very well.”
“Impressive” was the verdict of Le Parisien, who claimed that France “had opened up new horizons,” claiming that “we have not felt such enjoyment since 1998,” when Les Bleus won the competition on home soil.
