It is a puzzle that Didier Deschamps would have gladly done without for a match as important as that against Kazakhstan, this Saturday, November 13, which could offer a ticket for the 2022 World Cup to the Blues in case of victory. In the absence of his usual holders Raphaël Varane and Presnel Kimpembe, both injured, the coach will have to compose to complete his defense.
After the success in the League of Nations in October, Deschamps should keep his defense to three and start Jules Koundé and Lucas Hernandez for this first of two games in November. It is therefore a boss, the one who will occupy the axis of this three-way hinge, which the coach needs. A role that could be entrusted to Dayot Upamecano (4 caps, 1 goal), the 23-year-old defender of Bayern Munich, as suggested by the ball exit exercises carried out in training at Clairefontaine on Thursday evening.
The other options for this match against Kazakhstan are Clément Lenglet (14 caps, 1 goal), who hardly plays for FC Barcelona, and Kurt Zouma (8 caps, 1 goal), who back and forth as a team from France but had played the first leg in Noursoultan last March (2-0). “Upa” therefore appears to be a natural solution, which is considered to be one of the best exchanges in Germany.
The defender is not, however, unanimous in the France team. Far from there. Despite his status as an essential player at Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich, his debut with the Blues raised questions about his ability to perform the same at club and at international level. In the French team, Upamecano now has four selections, for a more than mixed performance.
As tradition dictates, Dayot Upamecano and Eduardo Camavinga sang in front of the group last night for their first call to the French team! #ProuddetreBleus pic.twitter.com/hwGKcLy7BQ
– French team ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) September 2, 2020
Evidenced by his entry into the final of the League of Nations against Spain (2-1), on October 10. Upamecano had been chosen to replace Raphaël Varane at the end of the first period but had not really reassured. He was even guilty on the goal of La Roja scored by Mikel Oyarzabal. His first two selections, in September 2020, against Sweden (1-0) and Croatia (4-2), were not convinced either, despite his first goal with the Blues in the second match.
Nothing detrimental since Didier Deschamps continues to trust him. But to the point of giving him the keys to the Kazakhstan defense truck? Last August, when recalling Upamecano to the Blues for the September rally – before he forfeited an injury – the coach confirmed the difficult start of the Bayern defender at this level.
““Upa” did indeed do good things and others not so well, as happens with players who arrive in the French team for the first time. Time has passed since then, he changed clubs (from Leipzig to Bayern Munich last July) and I took him because I felt that potentially he had everything he needed. I will not change my mind today. After, there may be a period of less well, a period of doubt“, Deschamps said at a press conference.
The coach’s patience, however, has limits. However, the one who has led the France team since 2012 knows that Upamecano has qualities that could stick to his three-way defense, as he indicated in Parisian in October 2020: “It exudes a serenity, a technical ease, above the average. And it is true that he has not been to the best of what he is able to do. But wanting to be there (in the France team) and being there is not the same thing. He is able to do a lot better.“
When facing Kazakhstan, Upamecano therefore has two advantages over Lenglet and Zouma: his quality of recovery, which could be useful against a team that should play grouped in front of his goal, and his good understanding with Lucas Hernandez, his teammate. to Bayern Munich with whom he has already played in a three-way defense and who should start in the left axis on Saturday night.
His technical qualities, the French supporters had also seen them during the Final 8 of the Champions League in August 2020, during the semi-final between Leipzig and Paris Saint-Germain. A few days after an excellent match in the quarterfinals against Atlético (2-1), Upamecano had floated against PSG while his team sank completely (0-3). A match that allowed him to become known in France, he who has never played pro in France after leaving Valenciennes for the Red Bull galaxy and the Salzburg club at the age of 17.
But his first performances in the France A team have so far not allowed him to settle in the minds of the general public. “In the France team, I haven’t had much luck so far, that’s how it is, Upamecano explained to The team last September. I don’t know if I am recognized or not (in France). Recognition only comes with performance anyway.“
By brilliantly fulfilling the role of Varane tonight, in the event of a tenure, in a meeting as decisive as this meeting against Kazakhstan, Upamecano could succeed in making a name for himself and at the same time convincing the staff of the team to France. Before a more intense duel against Finland next Tuesday.
All with the aim of validating the Blues’ ticket for the next World Cup in Qatar, which is in the sights of the Bayern defender. “I dream of playing the World Cup with the world champions“, he assured The team two months ago. It is ultimately up to him to display the same level of performance with the Blues as at Bayern Munich to achieve this dream.