Griezmann avoids a fire

France kneeled in the hell of Budapest and left two points that can change the pace in the European Championship. He actually saved one, well Griezmann’s draw prevented a major setback. Hungary was about to achieve it, emboldened as never before by the 60,000 fans who played their harassing and motivating role from start to finish.

Deschamps did everything in his power, but it was insufficient. The technician did not leave anything up and the only variation was Digne for Lucas, who does not finish overcoming some knee problems. The Gauls knew that the only way to bring down the red wall of Hungary was by crushing it. They tried it on all fronts and in all ways.

Griezmann, more attached to the right, left the reference in the creation for Benzema, who formed a luxury partnership with Mbappé. His were the first options, to each clearer, saved in some cases by Gulacsi and others by divine providence. For example, a shot from Benzema that licked the post when the goal seemed like an ocean to him. He decided to strike with the instep when he required the finesse of the interior. Mbappé had put the loop on the pass.

France dominated, in its authoritarian style, without giving concessions or respite. It was an industrial team, a rocky machinery like that of the World Cup, capable of finding loopholes where the Hungarian defense placed obstacles. Mbappé put the scalpel in another action, almost without space, and took a shot that also went wide. It seemed that the Hungarian defense would break at some point like a reservoir, as the French storm was not increasing.

But football is so wonderful, so indecipherable, so unique that who opened the waters was Hungary, with its basic but fussy game. A good diagonal when the first half was dying surprised Pavard and Varane, and there Fiola appeared to score the goal of his life, but not before taking time for the shot that seemed half a life. The Puskas Arena collapsed, the people went crazy, the screaming of the fans reached all corners of the country, from the first to the last.

The French were surprised, almost injured, knowing themselves so superior and being behind on the scoreboard. They had to put up with the context and tame the masses, who were still excited and made it known with their shouting in each counterattack, in each divided ball. The piece that shook the French tree was Dembéle. His entry opened France and recovered Griezmann in his best chrome of the drawing, centered and with freedom to flutter.

Finally the tie

Between the two Barça players they lit the light of hope. The winger finished off the post on his first play, but it was the playmaker who accomplished the difficult task of matching the shock. The goal was a punishment to the Hungarian defense, firm until then. A foul in favor resulted in a counterattack after Lloris’ quick serve, the centrals were imprudent to let the ball dribble against Mbappé and the PSG player took advantage of it to divide and provoke a loose ball that Griezmann pushed, as smart as ever.

The tie had an immediate effect on the scoreboard, but especially on the atmosphere. The Hungarian feat had lasted a long time, and yet the worst remained. Deschamps burned his tricks. He put Giroud in for Benzema, uninspired, and tried Tolisso for Pogba, equally misguided. A quarter of an hour of siege remained, overwhelming. Hungary began to lack the strength, also the confidence that until then it had squandered.

The last ten minutes were hell. Each French onslaught made the stadium shake. Mbappé found himself head-on with Gulacsi, who saved again immeasurably. Dembélé, who was a fan on the right, was injured, and his place was almost without time for Lemar. It was survive or die. It was holding on to the best team in the world to celebrate a draw as the most important ‘victory’ in recent times. It was Hungary feeling great again.