He knew he was being scrutinized. Observed with a magnifying glass. Holder for the first time since November 17, 2020 against Sweden (4-2), Marcus Thuram, preferred in the axis to Olivier Giroud and Randal Kolo Muani, did not hesitate on the way to mark his territory this Saturday 18 November against Gibraltar. Leave your mark on the match easily won by the French team.
Two hundred and forty seconds. Not one more to bring his personal total to two goals and equal, in passing, his father Lilian, present in the stands, author of a memorable double against Croatia in the semi-final of the 1998 World Cup (2-1). A duty of inheritance in short. Anecdotal? Not that much. In the three-way fight for the center forward position at Euro 2024, there is no small profit. For his fifteenth selection, he then demonstrated an altruism written in his genes by looking for a partner in the area instead of taking his chance (8th).
“His new position in the axis? I’ve been telling him for a long time that he would come. He doesn’t listen to me, his captain and friend Kylian Mbappé laughed on the eve of the match. In Mönchengladbach, when he was crossing the line, I kept telling him that he would end up in the middle because he has all the qualities to be a very good center forward. His start to the club season proves that Inter made the right choice and him to understand that it is his best position. »
Fairly good mention
High praise. From the small details, we can better guess the metamorphosis initiated by Thuram for over a year now. So at the start of the second half, when he found himself a little short in completing a cross from Coman, we saw him hitting the ground with his hand in anger. He has undeniably taken on a different skin. Changed register. Twice later, he came close to inflating his stats. And every time, this pout of annoyance. This contained inner rage. The speech of Jocelyn Gourvennec, his former coach at Guingamp from 2018 to 2019, comes to mind.
“He’s becoming a real competitor. This is the main change. Italy was a very good choice from this point of view, insisted the Breton technician. This country gives pride of place to results. It’s good to be and stay sunny, but on the other hand, this more killer, more surgical and colder side, he will acquire it in Serie A. He needed that because, when he was younger, he could sometimes miss a goal and keep smiling. Today, he has realized that when you have an opportunity, you have to convert it. I’m caricatures, but that’s the main idea. »
In front of his TV, Jean-Pierre Papin, the 1991 Golden Ball, five-time finest triggerman in D1 between 1988 and 1992, appreciates it like an expert. Asked about the native of Parma, the former Vélodrome icon was full of praise. “He has everything to be a real good surface 9,” he said. First of all, he’s a hard worker, I’m well placed to know that, because he asks me a lot of questions. He’s trying to find the right formulas, and I think since he’s done some work, he’s progressed. » With the feeling of having accomplished his duty, Thuram then gives way to Olivier Giroud (67th), who scores a double which inevitably fuels the debate on the battle of the 9.
“It wasn’t easy with a three-way defense,” analyzes Didier Deschamps. Marcus likes to have a little space but here, he didn’t have any. I asked him to stay axial to fix. It’s good ! He had more playing time. It’s in that sense, in relation to what awaits us, to gain more experience. »
