France-Germany: after the ordeal of Thuram, Deschamps no further advanced on the site of the attack

Special envoy to Lyon

Saturday evening at Groupama Stadium. The giant screen displays the 61st minute of play, the moment chosen by Didier Deschamps to make his first changes. Marcus Thuram runs towards the sidelines, under the whistles of the public, replaced by Olivier Giroud, acclaimed as soon as he comes into play. Funny for the “rival” of the local idol that is Karim Benzema. The difference in treatment is palpable, real. Supporters of the French team are not mistaken: the Milanese missed his meeting in Lyon. However, he had a dream opportunity to score points with a view to the Euro, to send a strong message to his coach and his partners in the fierce competition he is waging with the top scorer in the history of the Blues and Randal Kolo Muani for the number 9 spot. But Lilian's son who assured this week that he was "in the best period" of his career was seriously missed.

Be careful, if Marcus Thuram (26 years old) was not at the expected level, it was the entire French collective, orphan of Antoine Griezmann, who faltered on Saturday evening, except perhaps Ousmane Dembélé. For the rest, all the internationals were shaken by the Germans who were much more conquering and sure of their strength. But in football, and even more so in the French team, expectations are high. Huge. The Inter Milan striker knows it and barring any surprises, Tuesday evening he will watch the match against Chile from the sidelines. Didier Deschamps should prefer Olivier Giroud, who entered in the second half and who was a little more visible, notably with a strike at the end of the match, on the lawn of Groupama Stadium.

Thuram is still chasing his benchmark match in the French team

With 17 selections (only 4 times starting) and two small goals to his account, Marcus Thuram has so far shown far too little to hope to be at the forefront of the selection at the Euro (June 14-July 14). If he is far from being condemned, his disastrous performance against Germany will have been observed by the coach and his staff. More comfortable in a two-man attack, like at Inter Milan with Lautaro Martinez, the former Guingamp player was never able to show himself in his best light on Saturday evening.

Borrowed, hardly available as a support point, non-existent in the penalty area and imprecise on the only shot, from the left, that he had to get his teeth into, Thuram seemed to show his limits at the moment. A real ordeal even though he keeps saying he is available for selection, whatever the position even if he has a preference to be up front, in number 9. “Who am I to ask to play here or there in the French team? Where I have progressed the most in this position is in the tactical relationship with others, especially because I played as the only point last season. I often talk about it with Kylian (Mbappé), especially since we were young, and he told me that I would end up as a center forward. Today, I am settled in this position and I like it very well,” he explained before the meeting in Lyon.

21 balls touched, only one strike and the general impression of a missed opportunity is confirmed. Beyond the statistics, Marcus Thuram, brilliant with Inter Milan, never gave the impression of being a solution for his partners. Too lonely, not present enough in the handover game and author of bad calls for in the end a copy which does not allow the coach to advance in his reflection on the position of number 9 of the vice-world champions. Maybe so, in the end with Thuram deemed too fair and more valuable coming off the bench. The future will confirm this hypothesis or not. One thing is certain, the native of Parma is still chasing his benchmark match in the France team.