French team: what if it was finally Marcus Thuram’s time?

A career is sometimes made of circumstances, favorable or not. A turning point is emerging and offers a new destiny. At 26, Marcus Thuram finds himself more or less at a crossroads in the French team. Present in Didier Deschamps' group for three and a half years, he is preparing to play his third major international tournament with new expectations around him. 26th name at Euro 2020, replacement at the 2022 World Cup, this time the striker has the opportunity to continue his linear progression by snatching a starting place. All the lights are green.

The former Guingamp player is enjoying his very good season at Inter, where he is reaching a milestone after 4 years at Borussia Mönchengladbach. Aligned as a center forward alongside captain Lautaro Martinez, the Frenchman shines with 12 goals and 11 assists in 38 games with his club. Certainly, the elimination in the round of 16 of the Champions League at the end of an epic double confrontation against Atlético de Madrid hurts but he asserts himself as one of the best current players in Serie A. With 14 points ahead, the quest for the Scudetto is only a question of time.

Fixed in number 9

Time also takes its toll on his goal of becoming number 9 of the Blues. Karim Benzema has retired internationally, Olivier Giroud is 37 years old and is slowly giving up his place, while Randal Kolo Muani is in difficulty at PSG. In other words, the planets are aligned for Lilian's son, especially as he is starting to gain serious experience in this position, having played on the left side of the attack two years ago. “We often talk about it with Kylian, even during the INF Clairefontaine days. He told me, but not just him. Today, I am as fixed as 9 and I feel very good there.” Present at a press conference this Friday, Didier Deschamps, for his part, noted the positive development of his protégé. “Marcus by changing clubs has a more fixed position. He had to take a step forward in terms of efficiency. He has progressed. With us too. He's a young player. The potential is there. Offensive players are judged on the goals they score and those they cause to be scored..

16 times selected but only 3 times started during his career with the French team (2 goals, 3 assists), Thuram has, in any case, no more time to lose. This time he has a lot of assets in hand to be the starter for Didier Deschamps. “I think we are 3 or 4 quite different profiles who can bring something that the other doesn't have. Afterwards it is up to the coach to decide., he assured at a press conference, two days before the friendly match against Germany, the country organizing a Euro, that he will live in an ever larger costume. He’s the one who says it himself.

“I am in the best period of my career”

“Yes, I am in the best period of my career. I play for Inter, we aspire to win the championship. With a little additional difficulty for him, going from two points to just one. “We must not forget that during my first matches at Inter, I played alone up front. So I started alone. I had to relearn how to play as a pair, with Lautaro (Martinez), this season, and it’s going pretty well.” Not really bothered by the pressure, he must still correct his only downside: his mood swings, like against Savic in the Champions League. A flaw to be resolved especially in the context of a major tournament.