This is one of the big new features of the France team. While the new coach Zinedine Zidane has just succeeded Didier Deschamps, he has opted for a new head in attack with Estéban Lepaul. Top scorer in the last Ligue 1 season, the 26-year-old striker who exploded late in Ligue 1 at the age of 24 is living a real dream with the Blues. Rubbing shoulders with double world champions. The one who passed through Epinal and Orléans after leaving the Olympique Lyonnais training center confided that he believed in it hard.
His last season where he scored 21 goals and delivered 5 assists in Ligue 1 allowed the native of Auxerre to fully believe in the blue dream: “it was at the end of last season in Ligue 1, finishing as top scorer. It’s not given to everyone to finish top scorer in one of the 5 biggest European championships. So I said to myself why not knock on the door of the selection. That’s where the click happened.» Arriving this Monday in Clairefontaine, Estéban Lepaul was quickly welcomed and quickly felt integrated into the French group: “seeing the rooster with two stars was my most striking image upon my arrival. Afterwards I discovered Clairefontaine, I don’t know everything, I took the wrong floor when I arrived (laughs)“.
Estéban Lepaul wants to settle with the Blues
Quickly focused on the next matches with Nations League meetings against Turkey, Belgium and Italy, Estéban Lepaul wants to show himself in his best light: “the first objectives are to win the 4 matches, this will be the leitmotif of the group over the two weeks. We will have to seek out playing time and try to contribute as much as possible. If there is one goal that suits me, if there are several that suits me too. I will work as hard as I can and if I can, I will be rewarded. I will bring what I can to this team.»
And the least we can say is that the former Spinal player is motivated to shine as best as possible with the Blues: “we saw a video showing the history of the French team, what it won, talked about this heritage from generation to generation. We know the importance he places on selection. A video to make us aware. We must be driving forces of our generation. Represent France in the most beautiful way.» And for Estéban Lepaul the objective is not to only be passing through with the Blues.
Anyone who discovers the European Cup this season with Stade Rennais wants to be part of the long-term with the Blues and return to Clairefontaine after this gathering: “I said it, I want to be an actor in this selection and in what will happen afterwards. After being summoned once and having tasted it once, it’s time to do it again. I would still work as much and I would not change the way I operate to come back here. It will give me even more motivation on a daily basis.»
