Not selected in the initial list of the French under-23 team communicated on Thursday, Rayan Cherki was finally called up by Thierry Henry this Monday. The 20-year-old Lyonnais compensates for the withdrawals of Georginio Rutter (Leeds United FC) and Joris Chotard (Montpellier HSC). He will join the group in the afternoon, while “the coach gives himself time to think about possibly recalling another player,” specifies the French Football Federation in a press release.
“Everything but a punishment” for this player “lacking playing time” replied Thierry Henry at the microphone of the L’Equipe channel to explain Cherki’s absence from the first list. In the meantime, the attacking midfielder distinguished himself with a decisive start to the game on Friday with his club, on the pitch in Toulouse. A goal from a precise right-hand strike (77th), a winning corner at the origin of Lyon's third goal (scored by O'Brien, 81st), several intelligent and dangerous breakthroughs (83rd, 87th)... And the victory of Lyon (2-3) in the key.