Only 141 selections and Marcus Thuram will join his illustrious father in the Pantheon of the France team! The goal seems unattainable and it is not even certain that the son of Lilian (142 capes for the dad) imagines it. But, following the first appearance in the 23-year-old’s two-time world champion squad jersey, it will be a part of the fact that he will pile up a few more in the months and years to come.
Ultimate reward for a French player, this selection was however anything but a gift for the striker of Mönchengladbach, installed on the left wing against Finland (0-2). Quite simply because there is a fundamental difference between a first selection celebrated within a team full of automatisms and that aligned by Didier Deschamps at the Stade de France, renewed because of the many injuries and the strange positioning of this friendly match in a calendar already overloaded.
The scenario – Finland led 2-0 at the break – also didn’t help Marcus Thuram relax completely. In a very disappointing first half of the Blues, the tall guy (1.92 m) nevertheless floated. The most active player offensively, he could have had a much greater impact in this stadium neglected by all audiences. Very accomplice with Lucas Digne in the passes as the words, the striker trained in Sochaux first appeared on a corner to find the crossbar (15th).
Twelve years after his father
Passed very close to a first goal, Thuram insisted, multiplying calls and races in the left lane. On a new center signed Léo Dubois, he seems surprised, alone at the far post, and does not frame a volley with the right foot (18th). In the following minutes, a breakthrough (22nd), a shot too far from outside the box (23rd) and an attempt to recover back to goal (35th) offered the unique opportunities to close the gap for the Blues. Without much success, therefore.
Deschamps believes in him, not just because of his prestigious last name. The former Guingampais therefore continued in the second period, when Olivier Giroud or Wissam Ben Yedder, invisible, left their place. But the hope of catching a 2-2 draw, like his father in his first selection against the Czech Republic in 1994, has faltered over the minutes. Less present, his last attempt (71st) ended in the arms of the Finnish goalkeeper, Joronen.
Author of a flashy double against Real Madrid in the Champions League in October, Marcus Thuram would undoubtedly have dreamed of a better start. Still, the Stade de France had not seen a Thuram tread its meadow since June 2008 and the last appearance of Lilian in Saint-Denis. Another wink, Steve Mandanda was already in the France group and probably received advice from the father. This Wednesday evening, he is the one who spoke in the ear of the son.
