In the same week, the France team will lose the two goalkeepers who marked its recent history. After Hugo Lloris (36) who announced his international retirement on Monday, Steve Mandanda (38 years old on March 28) is about to imitate him, ensures The Team.
The two men have cohabited in Blue throughout their career, even if Lloris, record holder of selections (145) quickly took over. Mandanda made 35 caps between May 27, 2008 (France-Ecuador, 2-0) and November 30 (Tunisia-France, 1-0).
During this last group match of the World Cup in Qatar, the Rennes goalkeeper became the oldest player to wear the France team jersey at 37 years and 247 days. The withdrawal of the former legend from Olympique de Marseille therefore responds to a certain logic.
Who will keep the goals of the Blues in March?
However, “Il Fenomeno”, 2018 world champion, was sometimes tipped to act as interim in the tricolor cages during the first two qualifying matches for Euro 2024, on March 24 and 27, against the Netherlands at the Stade de France and then Ireland. Mike Maignan, natural successor to Lloris, is slow to recover from the calf injury which deprived him of the World Cup, and is likely to miss this double meeting.
Alban Lafont (Nantes), Alphonse Areola (West Ham) or Ilan Meslier (Leeds) seem to have to compete for the position. Unless Brice Samba (Lens), author of a formidable season, burns politeness to all these little people.