From the return of Karim Benzema to the coronation in the League of Nations through the fiasco of the Euro, the France team went through all the emotions in 2021. It can calmly approach 2022 with, as a climax, the World Cup in Qatar (November 21-December 18).
Among the 23 subscribers to Didier Deschamps' list, some players may aspire to break records.
Lloris will overtake Thuram
This should be the first record that will fall next year, and what a record!
Hugo Lloris and his 136 selections will soon join the record holder Lilian Thuram (140 capes) in history.
Barring injury, the goalkeeper and captain of the Blues will equal and overtake Thuram in early June, when the League of Nations resumes.
He will then be 35 years and 6 months old.
If France goes far at the World Cup, it can even reach the bar of 150 selections before the end of the year.
A record gone to last?
Not sure.
Kylian Mbappé and his 53 capes at only 22 years old are already positioning themselves ...
SEE ALSO -
Lloris' best saves with Tottenham in the Premier League last season
Griezmann, already Ironman ...
In 2002, Patrick Vieira stopped at 44 consecutive matches for the French team, a record that will have held until March 23, 2021. The day Antoine Griezmann walked the lawn of Kazkhstan for a 45th meeting in a row.
Since then, the native of Mâcon has still not missed a match, bringing his total to 59. Tight schedule, setbacks at Barça: nothing stops the marathoner Griezmann, whose record could extend over the whole of 2022.
Read alsoMini-tournament, list of 23, Qatar: this (very) hearty program awaiting the Blues in 2022
… And soon top scorer?
If Kylian Mbappé (24 goals at 22) arrives launched like a rocket, Antoine Griezmann could break the record of goals for the France team before him.
The world champion is already on the podium with 42 achievements, behind Olivier Giroud (46) and Thierry Henry (51).
Nine goals is Griezmann's total for 2021 with the Blues.
If he is effective before the World Cup, the Atlético player can therefore aim to overtake Henry on Qatari soil at the end of the year.
Read also World 2022: Who will be the 23 Blues who will go to Qatar?
Benzema, soon to be a century old and ahead of Platini?
Karim Benzema only needs 6 matches to become the 10th player to cross the 100 barrier for the Blues.
The former Lyonnais has not missed a single meeting since his return last June.
In the scorers standings, he still needs 5 goals to equal Michel Platini and his 41 pawns.
With 9 goals in his last 9 selections, Benzema is on track to enter the top 4 in this ranking.
SEE ALSO -
Benzema's best goals for Real Madrid in La Liga
Record of invincibility in sight for France
By punctuating its year 2021 with a victory in Finland (0-2), the France team has chained a 27th game without defeat in official competition (that is to say, excluding friendly matches).
A record tied with its series between 1994 and 1999. Its elimination from Euro 2020 by Switzerland would have interrupted this series if it had not been on penalties (3-3, 4-5 on the tabs).
So it was officially a draw.
The Blues can even aspire to the world record held by Italy with 31 unbeaten matches, until their loss in the semifinals of the League of Nations against Spain on October 6 (1-2).
