Tension rises a few days before the long-awaited semi-final of the European Cup between France and Spain. A shocking statement by Lilian Thuram, a former legend of French football, recently surfaced and makes a lot of noise behind the scenes of the French team. Thuram has openly suggested that Didier Deschamps, the team’s coach, should include his son Marcus Thuram in the starting eleven and, according to him, dismissing two players from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) so that France can have a chance to triumph against Spain.
Marcus Thuram, the Inter Milan striker, has shown an excellent level of form in club this season, and his father, as an international international, knows the pressure and the dynamics that govern high level. However, this request rocked the world of football, because it calls into question not only the tactical choices of Deschamps, but also the influence that certain players and former internationals can have on the selection.
Lilian Thuram has always been a defender of transparency and fairness in football, but his last outing sowed doubt among supporters and football experts. For many, this public intervention could be perceived as an attempted manipulation on the part of a father who wishes to see his son shine on the international scene. But for others, this request is above all a call for sporting logic, based on the current form of Marcus and on the need for dynamism in the French attack.
Lilian Thuram’s argument is based on the idea that Marcus Thuram, who was one of the most prominent players this season in Serie A, would be a centerpiece to allow the Blues’ attack to regain its effectiveness. Especially since, according to him, two PSG players, who have not been particularly convincing in recent months, should be left on the bench. These players, although very talented, failed to show their best level in club and in selection, and Thuram father seems to believe that victory against Spain will partly depend on the elimination of these elements of the initial training.
However, Didier Deschamps’ tactical choices are often guided by a long -term vision of the team and a concern for balance. The French coach has always favored a collective approach, putting aside the rivalries between clubs to focus on the unity of the national team. If this declaration creates a debate, it also highlights increasing pressure on Deschamps, which must take into account not only the form of players, but also the internal dynamics of the group.
The question is now whether this intervention by Lilian Thuram will have an influence on Didier Deschamps’ decisions. Football observers wonder if Deschamps will take risks to meet the expectations of supporters and former players, or if he will stick to his choices and his strategic vision.
