The Rossoneri forward`s goal was a standout moment in the Bleus` draw against Iceland. The national coach applauds his composure, and Nkunku himself emphasizes staying focused on the next action.
France`s recent draw in Iceland sparked considerable disappointment among both media and fans, who had anticipated an early qualification for the upcoming tournament, now postponed until November. However, from this international fixture, a clear positive emerged that could significantly benefit Massimiliano Allegri`s Milan: Christopher Nkunku. The newly acquired Rossoneri player was among the top performers on the field, netting the first of France`s two goals in the 2-2 tie. He received the highest rating from L`Equipe and earned notable praise from national coach Didier Deschamps, who highlighted Nkunku`s remarkable “quality of staying zen in front of goal.”
Admittedly, Nkunku didn`t fully capitalize on a couple of earlier scoring opportunities. Just three minutes into the game, a corner from the left was flicked on by Koundé, presenting Nkunku with a clear shot, but his effort was struck directly at the goalkeeper and pushed away from the goal line. Later, in the 16th minute of the second half, a free-kick from the right unexpectedly turned into an assist, but the Milan winger powerfully launched his shot high from a somewhat angled, yet promising, position. Reflecting on these missed chances after the game, Nkunku offered a pragmatic assessment: “As an offensive player, these situations are part of the game. The second chance came suddenly; I saw the ball at the last moment and tried to direct it, but it went high. The most important thing is to remain focused on the game and on the next action.” That `next action` indeed proved decisive, leading to his goal. The former Chelsea player skillfully dribbled down the left flank, confidently cutting inside to unleash a precise right-footed shot into the far corner in the 18th minute. This equalizer bolstered France`s confidence, enabling them to quickly double their lead through Mateta (23rd minute) before ultimately conceding a late equalizer to Nlynsson (25th minute).
Despite the initial misses, Nkunku consistently demonstrated why he was one of the best players on the field. He remained highly active on the wing and diligently contributed to defensive duties, ultimately crowning his performance with his second international goal, following one he scored against Israel a year prior. This impressive display earned him a solid 7/10 rating from L`Equipe, a score matched only by his wing colleague, former AS Roma player Lucas Digne. Le Figaro also gave him a positive score of 6.5, and Le Parisien considered his performance satisfactory. More significantly, Deschamps` comments underscored his value: “Nkunku possesses the exceptional quality to remain zen in front of goal. He isn`t yet in peak physical condition, as he hasn`t received substantial playing time at Milan so far.” After such a compelling and impactful performance, it will undoubtedly be challenging for Allegri to justify not granting him more opportunities on the field.
