Places will be expensive this summer, and Ekitike preferred to invest early so as not to see prices skyrocket. Surprise starter last night during the clash between the France team and Brazil (2-1), the Liverpool striker delivered a particularly promising performance, marked by his second goal for the selection, four months after that scored against Ukraine (4-0). This morning, the French press is unanimous about the former Parisian.
Credited with a 6.5 on our site, it also received honors from the newspaper The Team or Parisian. The sports daily writes: “a lot of work first on his left side, before being able to exploit the spaces by passing through the axis a little before half-time. His first offensive ball in this position hit the mark (65th). His understanding with his offensive teammates is very promising. Replaced by Doué (66th) ». We will be careful not to write definitive things about situations that are still provisional, but his performance could serve the same Désiré Doué, who is less dashing at the moment.
Ekitike asserts itself as a credible option for fourth place ahead
What we can say without hesitation for several months, however, is that the French team will be organized at the World Cup around a trio of Mbappé – Dembélé – Olise, supplemented by a fourth man whose identity remains to be defined (it also remains to be seen in what form and in what form). If he had not been withdrawn during this meeting, Barcola would undoubtedly have been able to complete the quartet against Brazil given his club form. But the Parisian striker does not yet have the selection references which allow him to establish himself as the starter on the left. No more than Désiré Doué.
The two Parisians should be balanced with Ekitike in the equation, who has the advantage of perhaps bringing more variety, with a different style from the other three. The Liverpool striker showed that he had the ability to play in the corridor, without necessarily meeting the specifications of the classic winger, unbalancing and dribbling. But he has other assets: his ability to combine, to dezone, but also to conclude as he recalled on his delicious lob after a stint with Olise. Qualities that his coach Didier Deschamps does not discover, but which could reassure him in the idea that Ekitike has the shoulders to claim a starting place in this team. Barcola and Doué are warned.
