Azerbaijan 1-3 France Player Ratings: France Bounce Back From Early Scare To Secure Easy Win

France ovecame Azerbaijan in dominant fashion, despite conceding an early goal in the World Cup qualifier. Mateta and Akiiouche scored for France, while the other one came from an own goal. Here are Sportsdunia’s Azerbaijan vs France Player Ratings from the FIFA World Cup qualifier:

Azerbaijan Player Ratings vs France

Check out Azerbaijan Player Ratings from Azerbaijan vs France WC Qualifier:

Goalkeeper

Shahrudin Mahammadaliyev - 4.0: An absolute nightmare of a performance. It's difficult to watch a keeper have a game this bad. He conceded three goals and then topped it off with a calamitous own goal right before halftime. That single moment just encapsulated his entire evening. From our perspective, he looked completely shot of confidence making only one save. He was rightly substituted at halftime, a merciful end to a disastrous 45 minutes.

Defenders

Bahlul Mustafazada - 6.5: He tried his best to hold a defensive line that was under constant siege. We noticed he made some genuinely crucial tackles and clearances to prevent the scoreline from getting worse. Despite conceding three goals, he won all of his duels and blocked two shots. A battling performance in a losing effort.

Anton Kryvotsiuk - 5.0: A really difficult evening for the defender. He was consistently targeted by the French attack and struggled to cope with their pace and movement. He received a yellow card for a poor challenge and was dribbled past three times. He looked a yard off the pace for the entire match.

Elvin Badalov - 6.0: Much like his defensive partners he had his hands full throughout. He managed an impressive seven clearances, which shows you the amount of pressure Azerbaijan were under. However, he was part of a backline that was pulled apart too easily in the first half. He fought hard but was ultimately overwhelmed.

Midfielders

Rahman Dashdamirov - 7.0: One of the few bright sparks for Azerbaijan. What stood out to us was his contribution to their only goal, providing a well-timed assist for Dadashov. He worked tirelessly, winning his tackles and drawing fouls to give his team some breathing room. A performance he can be proud of.

Emin Mahmudov - 6.0: The captain attempted to get his foot on the ball and dictate play but was largely a passenger. The French midfield trio simply overran him. He kept possession reasonably well but offered little in terms of forward thrust or defensive cover. A quiet game from a key player.

Abdulakh Khaybulayev - 5.5: His stats tell a story of hard work without much quality. We saw him make an incredible 12 ball recoveries, which is impressive. However, he was so sloppy in possession, giving the ball away constantly and picking up a needless yellow card. A mixed bag of a performance.

Qismat Aliyev - 6.0: A steady, if unspectacular, outing. He did his defensive duties without making any glaring errors, contributing with interceptions and clearances. From our perspective, he was solid but failed to make any significant impact on the game going forward.

Forwards

Renat Dadashov - 7.5: He gave his team and the home fans a moment of pure joy with his fantastic early goal. What a finish it was. He was a constant nuisance for the French defence with his physical presence until he was substituted. He was Azerbaijan's most effective attacking player by a mile.

Khayal Aliyev - 6.5: We noticed a few flashes of genuine skill from him, completing several dribbles and looking to take players on. However, there was a distinct lack of end product. He got into good areas but his final ball or shot was often missing. A frustrating evening for him.

Ceyhun Nuriyev - 5.5: He was almost completely anonymous during his time on the pitch. He struggled to get involved in the play and was caught offside. It was no surprise to see him hooked at halftime as his team needed more of a threat upfront.

Substitutes

Aydin Bayramov - 6.0: Came on for the struggling Mahammadaliyev at halftime and had little to do as France took their foot off the gas.

Nariman Akhundzada - 6.0: Brought on to offer fresh legs but struggled to impact the game against a dominant French side.

France Player Ratings vs Azerbaijan

Check out France Player Ratings from Azerbaijan vs France WC Qualifier:

Goalkeeper

Lucas Chevalier - 6.0: He was caught cold for the early goal and could do very little about it. After that, he was basically a spectator for the rest of the match. He did what was asked of him with the ball at his feet, but this was a very quiet evening for the French keeper.

Defenders

Malo Gusto - 9.0: What a phenomenal performance. This was the best player on the pitch by a country mile. He provided two sublime assists and was a constant menace down the right flank. What stood out to us was his defensive work rate, making six tackles. He was untouchable, creating big chances and winning 12 duels. A truly complete full-back display and our Man of the Match.

Ibrahima Konaté - 7.0: A solid and composed performance from the captain. After the initial shock of the early goal, he marshalled the backline effectively. He was calm in possession, boasting a 92% pass accuracy, and strong in his defensive duties. A professional display.

Lucas Hernández - 6.5: A quiet but very effective game from Hernández. He was incredibly tidy on the ball, barely misplacing a pass all evening. He wasn't tested a great deal defensively but did his job with minimum fuss when called upon. A steady presence.

Theo Hernández - 7.5: A constant outlet and threat down the left side. He was always looking to bomb forward, creating three chances including two big ones. His link-up play was excellent, and he gave the opposition defenders a torrid time with his pace and dribbling. Another strong attacking performance.

Midfielders

Khéphren Thuram - 8.5: An absolutely dominant display in the middle of the park, capped with a well-taken goal. He was a monster, winning 13 duels and recovering the ball nine times. He controlled the tempo of the game completely after the first 10 minutes. A powerhouse performance.

Christopher Nkunku - 8.0: He was electric until his substitution. We felt he was so unlucky to have his goal chalked off by VAR. He took an incredible seven shots and his movement was a constant problem for the Azerbaijan defence. He was a livewire who deserved a goal for his efforts.

Warren Zaïre-Emery - 7.5: Another performance that defied his years. From our perspective, his composure is incredible. A 97% pass accuracy shows just how tidy and reliable he is in possession. He controlled the midfield alongside Thuram, making it look effortless.

Maghnes Akliouche - 8.0: Scored the crucial second goal that put France ahead and was a real creative force. His crossing was a particular highlight, delivering five accurate crosses into dangerous areas. A great performance before he was taken off.

Forwards

Jean-Philippe Mateta - 7.5: Led the line very well and got the all-important equalizing goal with a classic striker's header. He held the ball up effectively and brought others into play. He will be disappointed to have missed a big chance in the second half, but his goal was vital.

Hugo Ekitiké - 6.5: A slightly frustrating night for the forward. He worked hard and got into some good positions but was a bit wasteful. We noticed he lost possession far too many times, which stalled some promising French attacks. Not his best game.

Substitutes and Manager

Rayan Cherki - 6.5: Looked lively after coming on, drawing fouls and trying to make things happen.

Florian Thauvin - 6.0: Had a shot blocked but didn't have a huge amount of time to influence the game.

Bradley Barcola - N/A: Came on late with the game already won.

D. Deschamps - 7.5: His team had a shocking start but he didn't need to panic. His players responded perfectly and blew Azerbaijan away before halftime. His tactical setup was spot on, and he managed the second half professionally. Job done.

Sportsduni's Player of the Match goes to Malo Gusto.