Colombia vs France (International Friendly, March 29, 2026) Final Score: Colombia 1-3 France (Goals: Jáminton Campaz 77′ for Colombia; Désiré Doué 29′, 56′, Marcus Thuram 41′ for France).
Confirmed Starting Lineups and Formations
Colombia 1-3 France
International Friendly – March 29, 2026 (Northwest Stadium, Landover, Maryland) Goals: Jáminton Campaz 77′ (Colombia); Désiré Doué 29′, 56′, Marcus Thuram 41′ (France).
Both teams lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Colombia Starting Lineup (4-2-3-1)
Manager: Néstor Lorenzo
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | Álvaro Montero |
| RB | Daniel Muñoz |
| CB | Davinson Sánchez |
| CB | Juan Cabal |
| LB | Johan Mojica |
| CM | Richard Ríos |
| CM | Jefferson Lerma |
| RW | Jhon Arias |
| AM | James Rodríguez (c) |
| LW | Luis Díaz |
| ST | Luis Suárez |
Text Formation Visual (approximate):
Suárez
Arias – Rodríguez – Díaz
Ríos – Lerma
Mojica – Cabal – Sánchez – Muñoz
MonteroFrance Starting Lineup (4-2-3-1)
Manager: Didier Deschamps (rotated/”B team” side)
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | Brice Samba |
| RB | Pierre Kalulu |
| CB | Maxence Lacroix |
| CB | Lucas Hernández |
| LB | Lucas Digne |
| CM | Warren Zaïre-Emery |
| CM | N’Golo Kanté (c) |
| RW | Maghnes Akliouche |
| AM | Rayan Cherki |
| LW | Désiré Doué |
| ST | Marcus Thuram |
Text Formation Visual (approximate):
Thuram
Akliouche – Cherki – Doué
Zaïre-Emery – Kanté
Digne – Hernández – Lacroix – Kalulu
SambaPost-Match Player Ratings & Key Performers
Ratings compiled from sources like FotMob, Sofascore, and match reports (approximate averages; scales ~out of 10):
France (dominant performance):
- Désiré Doué (MOTM): 8.3–8.7 — Scored a brace (first senior goals for France), clinical finishing, high involvement. Standout attacker.
- Marcus Thuram: 8.0–8.2 — Goal + assist, strong hold-up play and aerial presence.
- Rayan Cherki: 7.5–7.9 — Creative hub, key passes, excellent link-up.
- Maghnes Akliouche: 7.6–7.8 — Involved in build-up and goals.
- N’Golo Kanté: 7.6 — Strong midfield control.
- Others (e.g., Lacroix, Samba): Solid 7+ range; defense mostly comfortable.
Colombia:
- Jáminton Campaz (sub): 7.1–7.4 — Scored consolation goal, positive impact.
- Jefferson Lerma: 7.0–7.2 — Assist on the goal, battled in midfield.
- James Rodríguez / Luis Díaz: Around 6.5–7.0 — Creative but limited by France’s control.
- Most starters: 5.5–6.5 range, with defensive struggles (e.g., Mojica lower).
Predicted Lineups Before the Match
Colombia 1-3 France
International Friendly – March 29, 2026 (Northwest Stadium, Landover, Maryland)
Pre-Match Predicted Lineups (from sources like Sports Mole, FotMob, SI, etc.)
Predictions were published in the days leading up to the match (March 27–29, 2026). Most expected a 4-2-3-1 for both teams.
Colombia Predicted (Mostly accurate; minor defensive variations)
- Common prediction: Ospina (or Montero); Muñoz, Sánchez, Lucumí (or similar), Cabal/Machado; Lerma, Ríos; Arias, James Rodríguez, Luis Díaz; Luis Suárez.
- Manager: Néstor Lorenzo — largely stuck to a settled side with few changes from recent games (e.g., vs Croatia). No major rotation expected.
Actual: Very close match. Montero started in goal (instead of Ospina in some predictions), and the back four was Muñoz–Sánchez–Cabal–Mojica. Core attacking lineup (Arias–James–Díaz–Suárez) matched predictions.
France Predicted (Significant rotation expected and delivered)
- Common predictions (e.g., Sports Mole, Yahoo, SI): Maignan; Kalulu, Konaté, Lacroix, Digne; Kanté, Rabiot (or Tchouaméni/Zaire-Emery); Olise/Cherki/Doué, etc.; Mbappé up top or in attack.
- Many foresaw heavy rotation after the Brazil friendly, with fringe players getting minutes (Kalulu, Cherki, Ekitike, etc.). Mbappé was often tipped to start or play significant minutes.
Actual: Deschamps made extensive changes (essentially a “B team”). Brice Samba in goal, Zaire-Emery and Kanté in midfield, Akliouche–Cherki–Doué behind Thuram. Mbappé started on the bench (came on ~78′). This was more rotated than most predictions anticipated.
Team News & Injuries (Pre-Match)
Colombia:
- No major new injuries for the match. Yerry Mina (experienced CB) was absent due to injury/camp selection. Jhon Durán (striker) also unavailable.
- Squad was relatively strong and settled around key players like James Rodríguez (captain), Luis Díaz, and Luis Suárez. Lorenzo fielded a competitive, near-full-strength side.
France:
- Significant absences: Jules Koundé, William Saliba (ankle), Bradley Barcola, Manu Koné, and others ruled out or not selected.
- Rotation focus: After beating Brazil, Deschamps rotated heavily to test squad depth ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Mbappé (recently back from knee injury) was rested from the start but available as a sub. Many regular starters (e.g., from the Brazil game) were on the bench or rested.
- Depth highlighted: France had immense attacking options on the bench (Mbappé, Olise, Ekitike, Kolo Muani, etc.), showcasing why they were seen as strong World Cup favorites.
Comparison Summary (Predicted vs Actual)
- Colombia: Predictions were highly accurate. Minor goalkeeper and full-back variations, but the spine of the team was as expected.
- France: Predictions captured the rotation theme but underestimated how rotated the XI would be (e.g., Samba over Maignan, full attacking trio of Akliouche/Cherki/Doué, no Mbappé start). The “B team” still dominated, underlining France’s squad depth.
- Overall: Pre-match previews correctly anticipated a competitive but likely France-favored game, with rotation as the big story for Les Bleus.
Tactical Breakdown and Key Match Moments
Colombia 1-3 France
International Friendly – March 29, 2026 (Northwest Stadium, Landover, Maryland)
Formations
Both teams deployed a 4-2-3-1, leading to a structured but open contest.
- Colombia (Néstor Lorenzo): Compact defensively but reliant on transitions through wide players (Díaz and Arias) and James Rodríguez’s creativity. They struggled with France’s midfield control and transitions.
- France (Didier Deschamps): Fluid and attacking 4-2-3-1. The front trio (Akliouche–Cherki–Doué) interchanged positions effectively, supported by dynamic full-backs and a solid double pivot (Zaïre-Emery–Kanté). High pressing and quick transitions were key.
Key Tactical Battles:
- Midfield: France’s Zaïre-Emery and Kanté dominated possession and transitions, outworking Colombia’s Ríos and Lerma. This allowed France to dictate tempo.
- Wings/Attack: France’s attacking trio exploited space behind Colombia’s full-backs (especially Mojica). Colombia’s Luis Díaz and Jhon Arias had moments but were isolated.
- Defense: France’s back four (Kalulu–Lacroix–Hernández–Digne) handled Colombia’s limited threats comfortably. Colombia’s central defenders were exposed on crosses and counters.
Stats Comparison
| Statistic | Colombia | France |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 45% | 55% |
| Total Shots | 13 | 14 |
| Shots on Target | 5 | 5 |
| Touches in Opp. Box | 31 | 24 |
| Corners | 9 | 5 |
| Expected Goals (xG) | ~1.1 | ~2.3 |
| Big Chances | Low | High |
| Passing Accuracy | ~82% | ~88% |
Head-to-Head Record (All-Time)
France holds a clear historical edge, though matches have been competitive with no draws.
Overall Record (approx. 5–6 meetings):
- France wins: 4
- Colombia wins: 1
- Draws: 0
- Goals: France ~8–10, Colombia ~4–6 (exact totals vary slightly by source)
Key Past Matches
| Date | Competition | Venue (Neutral/Home) | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 29, 2026 | International Friendly | Landover, USA | Colombia 1-3 France | Doué brace + Thuram; rotated France side. |
| Mar 23, 2018 | International Friendly | Paris, France | France 2-3 Colombia | Colombia’s famous upset win (goals from Mina, Falcao, Quintero). James Rodríguez influential. |
| Jun 3, 2008 | International Friendly | France | France 1-0 Colombia | Tight defensive win for hosts. |
| Jun 18, 2003 | FIFA Confederations Cup (Group Stage) | France | France 1-0 Colombia | Competitive group match. |
| Jun 18, 1972 | Friendly | France | France 3-2 Colombia | High-scoring early encounter. |
Implications for the 2026 World Cup
This friendly served as one of the final major tests for both teams before the tournament (which kicked off in mid-June 2026). It highlighted contrasting strengths and concerns heading into the expanded 48-team competition.
FAQs
1. What was the final score and who scored?
France won 3-1. Goals: Désiré Doué (29′, 56′), Marcus Thuram (41′) for France; Jáminton Campaz (77′) for Colombia.
2. Who was the Man of the Match? Désiré Doué
(France) – Scored a brace in his standout senior international performance.
3. What formations did both teams use?
Both played a 4-2-3-1. France used a heavily rotated squad; Colombia fielded a near full-strength side.
4. Did Kylian Mbappé play?
Mbappé started on the bench and came on as a late substitute (around 78′). He did not score.
5. How does this result impact the 2026 World Cup?
It confirmed France’s strong squad depth as top favorites. For Colombia, it highlighted defensive issues but served as useful preparation against elite opposition ahead of their group stage.
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