Warren Zaire-Emery had a bittersweet France debut as he scored and then got injured inside 20 minutes against Gibraltar in a Euro 2024 qualifier.
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- Zaire-Emery scores against Gibraltar
- Youngest French scorer in more than a century
- Teenager forced off with injury early on
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WHAT HAPPENED?
The 17-year-old started against the European minnows on Saturday night and got on the scoresheet in fine style with a clinical finish after 17 minutes to make it 3-0, following own goals from Ethan Santos and Aymen Mouelhi.
However, his evening was cut short when Santos scythed him down as he swept the ball home. A VAR review followed and the Gibraltar defender was sent off. The Paris Saint-Germain wonderkid, meanwhile, was forced from the field with an ankle injury in the 20th minute.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Zaire-Emery is seen as the next big thing in France. He is already a regular at PSG and now he is a French international at the tender age of 17. He is now the third youngest French scorer for the national side behind Maurice Gastiger (also 17) and Julien Verbrugghe (16) – with the duo playing back in 1914 and 1906 respectively.
Incidentally, PSG will hope the teenager's injury is not a serious one as they try to win Ligue 1 once again and mount a serious challenge in the Champions League.
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WHAT NEXT FOR FRANCE?
France are next in action on Tuesday when they travel to Greece for their final Euro 2024 qualifier. Zaire-Emery will hope to be fit for that clash, but if not, they host Monaco in Ligue 1 on Friday.