Which goalkeeper for the Blues after Lloris’ international retirement?
Hugo Lloris announced the end of his international career on Monday after 145 caps with France. His consistency in goals for the Blues is a question mark, and while one of them has already emerged, there is no shortage of candidates.
Hugo Lloris, the world champion in 2018 and the unsuccessful finalist of the World Cup in 2022, has been actively involved in the recent saga of the French team at the international level. But at 36 and overtaking Lilian Thuram (145 games) as the Blues’ most capped player, the Tottenham goalkeeper announced his international retirement on Monday.
On the sidelines of the controversy surrounding Noël Le Graët, the Spurs goalkeeper and now former captain of the tricolor team has ended more than 14 years in a rooster-covered jersey. Coach Didier Deschamps will now have to find a successor to him who can keep France’s goals so brilliant. The good news is that there is no shortage of candidates before the start of the Euro 2024 qualifiers against the Netherlands and Ireland on March 24 and 27.
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Maignan, the heir dubbed by Lloris
The World Cup in Qatar package, Mike Maignan, looks the favorite to take over from Hugo Lloris in the cages of the French team. The 27-year-old goalkeeper, who has been training at PSG, then revealed to Lille that he was approaching a career bonus. Having won the French championship with the Mastiffs, the Guyanese then perfectly managed to take a new step in Italy with AC Milan.
The goalkeeper, who won Serie A with the Rossoneri, has hardly left the club since his arrival in June 2019 and has already made five appearances for the Blues. Mike Maignan, who lined up for Hugo Lloris in the selection, even got the support of the newly retired and followed him.
“It’s time for others to take chances and we know that Mike (Maignan) will take over. I wish him only the best,” Hugo Lloris said in an interview with the newspaper. Team. To him and other guardians who will appear. After that, if one or the other is missing, I won’t worry anymore, the French team will advance and so will I.
Areola and Mandanda as Blues regulars, but…
Steve Mandanda, who won the world title with Hugo Lloris in 2018 and is still involved in Qatar four years later, and Alphonse Areola are among the players Didier Deschamps regularly calls up to the blues. Unsurprisingly, the Rennes and West Ham goalkeeper is among the candidates to play in the selection following the Nice international’s retirement, and he wouldn’t mince words when listing his potential successors.
Admittedly, Steve Mandanda could also choose to move on to focus on club matches, but the soon-to-be 38-year-old, with 35 caps, has not revealed anything.
Alphonse Areola’s side, who has played five times for the Blues since his first call-up in October 2015, will undoubtedly have to make himself indispensable to West Ham before he can claim a starting place in France. team. Both the Hammers goalkeeper and Steve Mandanda are not guaranteed to get more game time following the retirement of Hugo Lloris. Especially if Mike Maignan does well.
Time for a new generation with Meslier and Lafont?
Aged 22 and 23 respectively, Illan Meslier and Alban Lafont represent this new generation of players who have already managed to quickly make their way onto Didier Deschamps’ roster.
If Alban Lafont has already earned his chance, on the bench, in September after a cascade of packages, this is not yet the case for Illan Meslier. However, both Nantes and Leeds goalkeepers perform well in Ligue 1 and the Premier League.
The two young players, soon to be identified as the future of the goalkeeper position in France, already have extensive experience at club level as well as at the international level in the youth category. Both explored minor options before shining in the Espoirs jersey.
After the front room of the French team, Alban Lafont and Illan Meslier could thus represent the future of the Blues, as Hugo Lloris eagerly clarified as he bowed out.
Those who go further: Chevalier, Samba…
In announcing the end of his adventure with the Blues, Hugo Lloris still named one last name to succeed him: Lucas Chevalier. The 21-year-old goalkeeper, who started the season well with Lille, is one of the discoveries of the northern group.
But the starter with the Mastiffs will first have to continue at the highest level before getting a chance in the tricolor. What about the newly retired “maybe” and “later” Lille might get a chance.
Finally, even if Hugo Lloris didn’t mention him this time, Brice Samba’s performance speaks for itself. The Lens goalkeeper, who returned to France in the summer transfer window after three seasons at the Channel, continues to shine in Ligue 1.
At 28, the former Le Havre and OM man could land in France if he can string together big games and the Blues need an immediate No.1. Before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he even signed a call-up to the French team. However, given the huge competition and the growing new generation, Lensois starts further back. Coach Didier Deschamps must decide we will not see Hugo Lloris again before the next meetings in Clairfontein.
