The time for the first international break has arrived. The opportunity for some players, authors of a solid start to the season in their club, to ride on their current form and thus continue to gain confidence and experience. The French team, exited in the semi-final of Euro 2024 against Spain, found itself on the pitch of the Parc des Princes this Friday evening to face Luciano Spalletti’s Italy. Two diametrically opposed nations between a Nazionale in eternal reconstruction and the Blues in search of new young elements to graft onto the already present executives. For this match, Didier Deschamps notably rewarded Bradley Barcola by launching him in the starting eleven from the start of the match: sixth selection with the Blues and second start in his young career. A logical choice given his good form in Paris (3 goals in 4 days). However, not everything was won in advance for this start from the first match of the break.
Despite the good impressions displayed on the first meetings with Paris Saint-Germain, Didier Deschamps preferred to temporize by calming the ardor of the journalists: “He was with us at the Euro, he showed some great things and had a very good start to the season. Obviously, his positioning is on the left too. That’s why I took him at the Euro. He’s a young player, he still has some levels to reach, but to say that he’s unshakeable…“. However, the coach of the Blues hides his game well and therefore logically started the former player of Olympique Lyonnais on the left wing of the attack, then surrounded by Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise and Antoine Griezmann. And one thing is certain: the native of Rhône-Alpes scored a lot of points and sent a message to the staff of the French team. In this slap received by Italy, Barcola is an exception and should thus stand out from a very sad game that the Blues have lent themselves to.
Barcola impresses the whole of France!
It’s hard to start a match in a better way than by scoring a goal in the 13th second of play. Indeed, by finding the back of the net at this speed, Bradley Barcola became the fastest scorer in the history of the French team. A way for him to make an impression without wasting time for his second start: “I’m proud to score this first goal here, but it’s a shame about this defeat, we could have done better. I saw that Kylian was on the side, but Gigio had anticipated, so I crossed my shot and it paid off. I think I’m ready, to give my best in every match when I’m a starter. It’s up to the coach to decide. I enjoy playing, I’m taking advantage“, specified the PSG player. Especially since the action really illustrates all of Barcole’s strengths and his role in an attack. Served back in his corridor, Giovanni Di Lorenzo had the ball stolen from him by Bradley Barcola from the kick-off. Launched at full speed, he entered the area, calmly took the information before adjusting Gianluigi Donnarumma at point-blank range. Calm, concentration, intelligence, cleanliness… The 2024/2025 Bradley Barcola continues to shine but this time on the international scene with his selection. With this achievement, Bradley Barcola has scored in each of his 4 matches for club and selection this season. An obvious symbol of maturity, but more consistency, an essential key to performing at the highest level.
He has also scored as many goals this season as he did in the entire previous season for club and country. To illustrate his leadership, this Friday, September 7, 2024 will remain a date engraved for the former Lyon player since he lost a match while scoring for the first time since the start of his professional career: “He is young, he is full of confidence, in a period with a lot of efficiency. It goes through stages, he was with us at the Euro, he is in a constant progression. The opponent adapts, they knew how to defend. It is more complicated, even if Bradley has the capacity to eliminate“, explained the French coach. Beyond the purely statistical aspect, Bradley Barcola is, as at Paris Saint-Germain, the most consistent element, the one who brings the most danger on his left side, one of the only players of the Blues tonight to have set the place on fire outside the first 20 minutes of collective domination. All with cleanliness as evidenced by his 82% of successful passes and his seven duels won out of eleven played. Barcola is in the big league, we have to get used to it…
