Rayan Cherki shines as France falls to Ivory Coast

France lost 2‑1 to the Ivory Coast in a pre‑World Cup friendly, with the second half seeing the French side collapse tactically. Amid the team’s disarray, Lyon forward Rayan Cherki stood out, delivering a bright performance with numerous touches, defensive work and creating chances despite not scoring.

After the match, Cherki appeared on TF1 for an interview. He joked about a pose taken beside a minister during Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Clairefontaine, saying he lowered himself “out of respect” and promised to “make jokes” about former players Thomas Mekhiche and Bixente Lizarazu. His light‑hearted remarks added a pleasant note to an otherwise disappointing outing for the French side.