The French team’s World Cup is over, and it’s already time to take stock. Some players were able to take advantage of this tournament to gain credit in the eyes of the future coach, Zinédine Zidane, while others completely missed out. Among the goalkeepers, Mike Maignan will have played all of the 8 matches for the Blues, alternating between the best and the worst. We won’t go so far as to question the status of the AC Milan goalkeeper, but his teammates would probably have liked to be able to count on him a little more at certain times. In defense, Ibrahima Konate is one of the big losers. Relegated to fourth place in the hierarchy of central defenders, the Real Madrid player experienced a World Cup in the shadows. Didier Deschamps even took him out during the break during the last match against England where he took water, like many.
His replacement, Maxence Lacroixstruggled to confirm what we saw of him in March. It is never easy to come into play in a World Cup semi-final, and the Crystal Palace defender will be able to confirm this. Late on the second Spanish goal, he was no more reassured yesterday against England, where he was often found wanting, notably on the sixth English goal where Jude Bellingham played with him. A time claimed to take Koundé’s place, Malo Gusto did not really convince. His nightmare match against England yesterday does not call into question his qualities, but it is not likely to reshuffle the hierarchy cards. No more than on the left, where Theo Hernandez saw his delay increase on Lucas Digne. Author of a disastrous first half against England, the former Madrilenian came off at the break. According to The Teamhe had not masked his low motivation to play this last match.
Rayan Cherki disappointed
Considering his talent, Warren Zaire-Emery will inevitably have his chance in the Blues one day, but the Parisian titi has once again spent a competition in the shadows. Entering at the end of the match against Morocco in the 1/4 final (2-0), he then had a very timid first start against England (4-6), where we expected more from him. Difficult to place N’Golo Kanté in the category of big losers since the Fenerbahçe midfielder did not play a single minute. We imagine that the 2018 world champion was aware of the role that awaited him in this tournament. The same goes for Lucas Hernandez.
Rayan Cherki belongs to the category of great disappointments, and incidentally great disappointments. Never in the right tone during his entries, particularly against Spain where he constantly slowed down the game, the Manchester City player delivered a nightmarish first half against England (4-6). He even clashed with Didier Deschamps before being replaced at the break. A missed appointment. Marcus Thuram only played one minute in the tournament (against Iraq) and that says a lot about his status now. It is now time to launch a new cycle under the leadership of Zinédine Zidane. The future coach of the Blues will manage his first four matches at the end of September. As a reminder, the Blues will go to Turkey on September 25 for Zidane’s debut, before going to Belgium on the 28th. ZZ will then make his home debut… against Italy (October 2 at the Stade de France), then the Blues will return to Belgium on the 5th.
