Summoned to the France team for the first time, Benoît Badiashile, Youssouf Fofana and Randal Kolo Muani did not escape the traditional rookie press conference. In turn, starting with the two Monegasques, the three newcomers took turns in the Clairefontaine auditorium, this Monday afternoon, September 19. The opportunity for them to say all the happiness they have to be there and to entrust, together, the same astonishment when they learned of their convocations, last Thursday.
Benoît Badiashile, until now captain of the Espoirs, was the first to answer the questions of the journalists. The Monaco defender said he was “surprised” the day the list was announced: “I didn’t necessarily expect it. “And to add:” Yes, when you are selected for the last list before the World Cup, you can have ambitions and hope to participate. »
His club partner Youssouf Fofana, too, did “not at all” expect to be called up. “I dreamed of it and today entering it makes me happy, there was a feeling of pride”, details the Monegasque midfielder.
The subject is more or less the same for Randal Kolo Muani who, since this summer, has been playing in Frankfurt, Germany, where he has made a remarkable debut (2 goals, 4 assists). The former Nantes native first spoke of a “nice surprise” before going further in the joy that this first in blue gives him: “It’s stronger than starting in the Champions League, I think. »
Fofana: “Qatar is very far in my head”
For Youssouf Fofana, there is no question of igniting just over two months before the World Cup. “Qatar for the moment is very, very far in my head”, recalls the native of Paris, who spent a younger age at INF Clairefontaine, Espérance Paris 19e, Red Star and Drancy. Demoted to the B team in U17, he could have stopped everything six years ago. Today, he takes a lucid look back.
“My career path is a bit atypical, but what’s good is that I got up quickly, rejoices the Monaco player. I’m 23 and honoring my first call. In the eyes of people, it may seem normal, but it is a lot of work. I am very proud of myself and I hope to continue on this constant line. »
In blue, Youssouf Fofana finds Aurélien Tchouaméni with whom he was a pair on the Rock before the latter left for Real Madrid. “It’s a chance to fit in well. The coach will make his choices, it is not automatically the Fofana-Tchouaméni duo who will play. Like the other newcomers, he intends to take advantage of the two upcoming matches, against Austria on Thursday and in Denmark on Sunday, to score points with coach Didier Deschamps.
