Barcelona New Boy Samuel Umtiti Is No Weak Link for France

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: July 5, 2016

commentComment        

Adil Rami has cut an optimistic figure for France during Euro 2016, as well he might after a whirlwind end to the 2015-16 season.

From seeming like he was miles away from France manager Didier Deschamps’ set-up, via a historic Europa League win with Sevilla, all the way into Les Bleus’ XI. He even managed to get away with criticising Deschamps for originally overlooking him (as per RMC, reported here by L’Equipe, in French), a very similar offence to the one that saw Dimitri Payet cast out of contention for the best part of a year.

The centre-back was bullish again as he talked to a huddle of journalists at Parc OL, after enduring a tough match against Republic of Ireland in the last 16—during which he collected the yellow card that prevented him from playing against Iceland in the quarter-finals. “Yes, I’m thinking about the semi-final (already),” he told us. “I already see myself in Marseille. I have the right to, because I won’t be playing in the quarter-finals.”

The only problem with the Sevilla defender’s theory was that if France did arrive at Stade Velodrome for Thursday’s second semi with their hopes in the competition safe and sound, his chances of recouping his place in the XI always looked flaky.

After Sunday’s thumping win over Iceland that, for France’s defence at least, was the quintessential game of two halves, Rami has a chance of coming back in, but the smart money is on preserving the status quo against Germany.

Samuel Umtiti, who made his first France appearance against Iceland in Rami’s stead—not his first start, or his first competitive start, but his first appearance, period—is a player who is easy to believe in. He may be new to starting internationals, but Umtiti is far from being a greenhorn. At just 22, he’s already made 170 first-team appearances for Lyon and carries himself...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

Latest News


Comments

Comments are closed.

Sponsors

Bruins Tickets The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.

Red Wings Tickets The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League.

Penguins Tickets The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.

New York Rangers Tickets play their home games at Madison Square Garden, they are one of the oldest teams in the NHL, having joined in 1926 as an expansion franchise, and are part of the group of teams referred to as the Original Six.

San Jose Sharks Tickets The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States.

Toronto Maple Leafs Tickets The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.

New Jersey Devils Tickets The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League.

Washington Capitals Tickets The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C.

Buffalo Sabres Tickets The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League. Get the Sabres and all of your NHL Tickets here.

NASCAR season is on of the most attended sports in the world. NASCAR Tickets to the best tracks is a must every year. Some of these tracks are: Talladega Tickets, Lowes Motor Speedway Tickets, Pocono Raceway Tickets, located in Ridgeway Virginia you have Martinsville Speedway Tickets and southern US you have two of the most popular Atlanta Motor Speedway Tickets and Texas Motor Speedway Tickets. Don't miss all the racing events this year!

Boston Red Sox Tickets The Boston Red Sox are a member of the Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Since 1912, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park. This is one of the hottest MLB Tickets sales of any team in the major league.

New York Yankees Tickets The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City, New York and are a member of Major League Baseball's American League East Division. Get tickets to one of the hottest games of the season Yankees Red Sox Tickets.

Chicago Cubs Tickets The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League.

Phillies Tickets The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883.

Orioles Tickets The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland.

Do you love wrestling? Get your WWE Tickets and WWE Survivor Series Tickets today!