2,192 days later. After being completely excluded from the France team and a last successful match against Andorra, where he scored and delivered an assist in June 2019, Florian Thauvin was the sensation of this French gathering. The 32-year-old striker is having a good start to the season with RC Lens, who repatriated him in the summer transfer window. His nice return to Ligue 1, rewarded by replacing Bradley Barcola, was not unanimous among supporters and the media, but the Lensois responded on the pitch.
Coming into play in the 84th minute to compensate for Kylian Mbappé's injury, the ex-Marseillais allowed the Blues to take the lead against Azerbaijan (3-0) with a nice shot from the left, after a check at the near post. At the end of the match, alongside Maghnes Akliouche, the attacker jumped to the penalty spot to place an acrobatic return which missed the target (90th + 4). An impressive activity during his eight minutes played for his return to the blue jersey, which he lived like a dream.
Florian Thauvin has come a long way
“It’s incredible, it’s a bit of a dream, I’m having trouble landing. It's a great satisfaction and a pride to play for the France team, it's inside me. I am very happy. The psychological work is done before entering the field, because the last few years have been difficult for me, but I never stopped working and I never gave up. I dreamed of returning to the French team, I told myself that I would give everything if one day I came back… so I am happy”he explained on TF1.
A second goal in the tricolor jersey which also made him smile. “I have good stats… two selections and two goals. My whole family was there, it’s a great life lesson, work always pays off in the end.”added the Sang et Or, greeted by Didier Deschamps. “On an individual level, it’s a great comeback. He has this skill in front of goal that he has always had, so it is very good for him and therefore for us. We expect that from incoming players, especially offensive ones, so it’s a very good thing.”. And if he is still far from a place at the 2026 World Cup, Florian Thauvin can enjoy it.
