The distance duel between Mike Maignan and Manuel Neuer will wait. At least a few months. At the earliest during the Euro if the two nations come across each other in the knockout phase of the tournament. But if the Bavarian goalkeeper, injured in a leg, has left the Mannschaft since Wednesday, his AC Milan counterpart, spared at the start of the week due to ischio discomfort, participated normally this Friday evening , to the tactical implementation of match eve at Groupama Stadium.
It was, however, not possible to expose him to the slightest risk and the precautionary principle naturally prevailed. Lensois Brice Samba was among the starters and he is therefore preparing to honor his 3rd selection after having already played against Gibraltar in June (3-0), then Greece in November (2-2) in the qualifiers for the Euro 2024 (June 14-July 14).
It is still too early to know if Maignan will be able to hold his place for the second match, March 26 in Marseille, against Chile. Asked about him on Friday, Didier Deschamps, the national coach simply explained: “He will be in a normal session today (this Friday) with the two other goalkeepers, Brice (Samba) and Alphonse (Areola). Tomorrow will be another day. »
A certain muscular fragility
The former Lille player had already experienced a first alert on March 14 in the Europa League when he gave up his post prematurely due to a knee contusion contracted during a clash with a player from Slavia Prague (3-1). The exams taken the day after this meeting, however, proved reassuring and he was present on Sunday March 17 in Serie A against Hellas Verona (3-1).
International since 2019, he was inducted as a starter after the international retirement of Hugo Lloris, the record holder for selections in January 2023. Previously, an injury to the left calf, which occurred in September 2022 during a Nations League match against Austria (2-0), deprived Maignan of the 2022 World Cup and kept him away from the field for 5 long months. This season, he was just stopped for a few days, in September, for a problem with his left thigh. However, the feeling of a certain recurring muscular fragility of the player sometimes fuels certain internal debates.
The “misfortune” of one person makes the happiness of others and this applies to Brice Samba. Breaking with a sometimes chaotic career, the artesian porter, approaching thirty (he will be in April) is reaching a form of fullness. He was called up for the first time by the French team just a year ago for the Euro qualifying matches against the Netherlands and Ireland. His regularity with Lens in Ligue 1, runner-up to PSG in May 2023, had encouraged Didier Deschamps to take an interest in his profile. He had previously never worn the tricolor jersey among young people despite being called up to U19.
“There is a truth in March, there was a truth in November, and there will be a truth in June. »
Didier Deschamps, coach of the French team
It only took two meetings for him to settle into the shoes of number 2 to the detriment of Alphonse Areola, who nevertheless holds another precedence enhanced by a world champion title in 2018. To date, the distribution of roles has not been has not changed, even if nothing seems set in stone between now and the German tournament.
” The hierarchy ? It is scalable. Until then, Mike Maignan is number 1, Brice Samba number 2, and Alphonse Areola number 3, Deschamps explained on Monday. Alphonse is having a very good season, and Brice had a period where he was less good. It’s not about changing at all costs. But things must be clear, for the guards themselves, and they are defined before each gathering. There is a March truth, there was a November truth, and there will be a June truth. »
With these considerations in mind, Samba, praised by both club and selection for his leadership, will therefore be closely scrutinized at Groupama Stadium. He could emerge comforted or, on the contrary, see his credit somewhat crumble to the benefit of the West Ham goalkeeper.
