On the opposite side, Rayan Cherki, 21-year-old rising star, has just gotten his first call-up to the French national team. They’re preparing for a Nations League final four party! Head coach Didier Deschamps revealed the 26-man squad on Wednesday, making it the latest chapter in Cherki’s developing career. Thus far this season, he’s been on fire in Ligue 1. His encouraging performances have significantly improved Olympique Lyonnais’s offensive prowess after a period of collective failure to deliver.
Cherki has been chosen at an important juncture for French football. They will play Spain in their semi-final game on June 5 in Stuttgart, Germany. The young forward’s dynamic play and ability to create scoring opportunities have definitely not gone unnoticed. His inclusion is testament enough to his talent. On the one hand, as the French team Continue reading The depth of skill on display at the women’s World Cup →
Cherki’s Journey to Recognition
Rayan Cherki has long been seen as one of the most talented potential players on the planet. Now, finally, he’s started to make good on that promise in consistently negative fashion. This season – especially after January, with almost half of his goals scored since then – he has flourished in Ligue 1, becoming an essential cog for Lyon’s offense. Perhaps even more than his goals, his performances on the pitch display a maturity and skill level beyond his years. Today, they’re enjoying the spotlight at the national level.
Deschamps recognized the value of Cherki’s development, pointing out that his performances have deserved this chance. The young forward is a gamebreaker who can play make and score goals in high-pressure situations. His talent will definitely be needed as France goes for their own Nations League title.
France Faces Tough Competition
Yet as France glides into their semi-final against Spain, the outlook is not so rosy for Deschamps, who knows the task waiting on the other side. Spain has traditionally been considered the top side in Europe, if not the world. On attacking talent France fields a veritable army of supremely skilled players. They’ll need to bring their A-game if they want a shot in the final.
To make matters worse, key defenders William Saliba and Jules Kounde are out with injuries. This latest blow only deepens the impact on an already difficult ledger. Despite that, Deschamps is very optimistic about his squad’s talent and versatility.
“I don’t need to motivate them. Spain are certainly the best European team, if not the best in the world, with players who are extremely high-performing.”
For France, this Nations League will be a measure of their talent as much as their character. The squad will face either Portugal or Germany in a third place match or in a championship final. Each game counts double this season!
Looking Ahead to the Tournament
Cherki’s debut is just around the corner. After May 31, a number of other players that will participate in the UEFA Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan will join the squad. High profile additions of Marcus Thuram, Ousmane Dembele and Lucas Hernandez come to mind. All three of them bring experience to our work and talent as storytellers.
Deschamps made special mention of fellow prodigy winger Lamine Yamal’s extraordinary capabilities and called him one to watch. He stated,
Deschamps also highlighted Lamine Yamal’s extraordinary abilities as another player to watch. He stated,
“Barca aren’t in the Champions League final, so they’ll probably be fresher. Of course, there’s Lamine Yamal, who does extraordinary things.”
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