France beat Colombia 3-1 to showcase firepower and squad depth

LANDOVER, Maryland — France sent a loud message to their World Cup rivals here Sunday, dismantling Colombia 3-1 at the home of the NFL’s Washington Commanders while using an entirely new starting XI and leaving captain Kylian Mbappe on the bench until the closing stages.

The victory, Les Bleus’ second in four days on U.S. soil, was built on a blend of youthful audacity and collective depth that coach Didier Deschamps will mine when he finalizes his roster for the June 11-July 19 tournament in what he has confirmed will be his last as national-team boss.

Eighteen-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward Desire Doue stole the spotlight, opening the scoring on the half-hour when his low drive from the edge of the area took a decisive deflection off Crystal Palace defender Daniel Munoz. Doue doubled the advantage in the 56th minute, latching onto a clever layoff from Inter Milan striker Marcus Thuram, who had himself doubled France’s lead just before the break with a glancing header from Monaco playmaker Maghnes Akliouche’s inviting cross.

Colombia, bright early on, found a response through Jaminton Campaz, whose fierce effort clattered in off the upright moments before Mbappe entered for his 96th cap. The Real Madrid star, fresh from three weeks out with a knee issue and a goal against Brazil on Thursday, was kept in reserve for most of the night and remains on 56 international goals—one shy of Olivier Giroud’s French record.

Deschamps’ rotation policy underscored the wealth of options at his disposal. None of the starters against Brazil retained his place, yet France looked cohesive, combining the flair critics have sometimes claimed was sacrificed for pragmatism with the ruthless efficiency that has become a Deschamps hallmark.

The result propels France into the final stretch of preparations buoyed by momentum and clarity. With the squad announcement looming in May, Sunday’s showing offered compelling evidence that Les Bleus can rely on more than just their marquee names as they chase global glory.