What if Lucas Chevalier had just experienced three weeks capable of changing the destiny of a career? Recognized as a rising star in Ligue 1 since his debut in the elite in September 2022, the 22-year-old Lille goalkeeper remains in three impeccable clean sheets in which he disgusted the Lyonnais Mama Baldé and Tino Kadewere (0-2), the attackers of Olimpija Ljubljana in the Europa Conference League (0-2, don’t ask us their names in the comments please), and even more FC Metz on Sunday (2-0). Because Lucas Chevalier quite simply accomplished the feat of repelling two penalties in this match, from Simon Elisor (at 0-0, 29th) and Lamine Camara (at 2-0, 55th).
A feat as rare as it is spectacular which leaves a lasting impression. “I told my teammates that it wasn’t going to happen to me every day,” the person concerned laughed. I don’t even know if I will experience this again in the future. I just tried to choose a side and not deviate from what I had to do so as not to harbor regrets. I opt instead for feeling. » If Nice’s Marcin Bulka had achieved the same performance in September against Folarin Balogun and AS Monaco (0-1), no other goalkeeper in Ligue 1 had been so on fire in penalty kicks for thirteen years.
“He will reach the very, very high level”
Another possible turning point for the goalkeeper of the fourth in L1 and second best defense in the championship (after OGC Nice): during the last meeting of the France Espoirs team, the young Toulouse Guillaume Restes (18 years old) tore himself in the great widths against Austria (0-2) and South Korea (0-3). Enough to push Thierry Henry to modify his hierarchy of goalkeepers in view of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games? “I hope that he will participate in the next Olympic Games,” pleaded his opposite number in Metz, Alexandre Oukidja, on Sunday. This evening I saw a lot of maturity in his kicking game and serenity. He played the perfect match. He even has a bright future in the French team. »
For the moment, within Didier Deschamps’ A, Brice Samba and Alphonse Areola are the replacements for Mike Maignan, former partner of Lucas Chevalier at Losc. But this ultimate perspective was also mentioned by Rémy Cabella on Sunday. “If we are here currently, it is also because we have a great goalkeeper and we must congratulate him,” confided the Lille attacking midfielder. It will reach the very, very high level, and why not the French team. » In the short term, we imagine him having more fun at Paris 2024 than on the sidelines of the Bleues de DD, two months earlier, in Germany.