Special Envoy to Doha
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Aurélien Tchouameni walks.
Whether on the field, with the Blues and Real Madrid, or in front of the microphones, the native of Rouen displays the same ease, the same impression of ease.
Everything is going well with Tchouameni, already essential in the France team despite his young age (22 years old) and his relative lack of experience (16 selections, 1 goal) after the packages of the Kanté / Pogba doublet.
And a beacon, a leader for the young generation within the France group?
"
What does that mean in the end?
I have 16 selections.
I try to store as much experience as possible.
When you look at the table, there are more and more players with whom I have played in the youth categories.
A new generation is emerging.
Afterwards, leader of this generation, no, not necessarily, but I hope that I still have a minimum in the team
”, smiled the ex-Monegasque this Monday, on the eve of France-Tunisia (Wednesday at 4 p.m. ).
Usually, it is also the captain who is invited to speak alongside Didier Deschamps on D-1.
The Blues being already assured of qualification and almost certain to finish first in their group, the coach will probably operate a significant turnover.
To see if Tchouameni, who has played the last eight matches for the France team, including seven as a starter, will be part of this rotation.
"
He will not be captain
", simply specified Deschamps.
"
Personally, I would like to continue, we will see what the coach decides to do
", smiles the interested party, who expects to be confronted with "
a strong, rough team, with talented, technical players, who have this ability to put a lot of intensity
".
All in an atmosphere necessarily to the advantage of the Eagles of Carthage, their supporters having “
come in large numbers to Qatar.
We will have a good atmosphere and we live for this kind of match, so we are happy
”, swears Tchouameni, delighted to discover the World Cup, “
something unique, there are lots of things that change
”.
As a sentry, it requires more sobriety, we have to ensure the balance of the team much more.
Aurelien Tchouameni
And this even if Deschamps chose to entrust him with a costume which may, from a distance, seemed skimpy for its qualities, especially in terms of projection.
For this campaign, Tchouameni is the sentinel of the Blues.
“
Between sentinel and torchbearer, there is a difference.
As a sentry, it requires more sobriety, we have to ensure the balance of the team much more.
Inevitably, sometimes, at times in the match, I want to go but I tell myself "no" because I know that behind, if there is a counter-attack, I have to be in square.
It's a role close to my heart, I'm happy to have it.
From the moment we win and everything goes well for us, if everyone fulfills their role, so much the better
,” underlines Tchouameni,
with Adrien Rabiot and saying he was "
impressed
" by the volume of play of Antoine Griezmann.
No frustration
Sentinel, torchbearer, a subject already mentioned by the former Girondins player after the victory against Denmark (2-1).
“
I feel good, I think I got stronger between the first and second game.
It was a match that required other things.
Afterwards, I have the qualities to do a lot of things, but the coach asks me above all to respect a very specific role.
Sometimes, inevitably, it's a little more sober... But you have to respect.
And from the moment I help the team, that's the most important thing
,” he said.
Read alsoThe notes of the Blues against Denmark: Mbappé superstar, Griezmann omnipresent
And to add, all smiles and with his usual ease, about a possible feeling of frustration about this role which deprives him of more climbing, more touching the ball in the danger zone: “
If we win the World Cup... No.
Inevitably, as the coach said, I am capable of doing a lot of things but depending on the opponent and the players we have in the team, you have to know how to do another job, that's what I'm doing.
If there is a need to do this for the team, no problem!
More offensive input?
Yes, by the way, Antoine (Griezmann) missed (on) one of my passes (smile).
It's true.
After the Mach against Australia, we had to pay a little more attention to the transitions.
This time, we were a little lower on the pitch, with less space, but of course I was able to show my attacking qualities a little more.
Afterwards, it will depend on the physiognomy of the matches.
If I have to stay a little lower, it will have to be done.
»
We hope to be able to do a small concert by the end of the competition.
Aurelien Tchouameni
In view of the forces present and absent, it is indeed in this register that Didier Deschamps and the Blues need Aurélien Tchouameni the most.
This may be the case against Tunisia, but certainly in the 8th.
It remains to be seen whether it will be against Leo Messi's Argentina, Poland, Mexico or Saudi Arabia, the four potential opponents of France.
“
There is no preference.
There are bound to be the best teams in the round of 16.
You have no right to hide.
After a while, you will necessarily have the big teams.
Argentina, Poland, Mexico: we will be ready
”, he swears, assuring that “
the 11 players who will start (Monday) will be keen to show their best face and do everything to win
”.
Among them, there may be Eduardo Camavinga… at the left-back position.
After Lucas Hernandez's injury, Deschamps has no obvious option if he wants to breathe Theo Hernandez.
“
I had not necessarily seen Cama's skills on the left.
That's why I'm not a coach
, ”smiles Tchouameni, whose talents we also discovered… as a pianist, in a video (see above).
"
That wasn't bad, huh?"
I've never done that in my life.
It's the first time, he says.
When I made the video, I had learned the sound for 24 hours.
This is not bad.
We have a great group life.
There are different poles, poker, cards/uno and musical.
We hope to be able to do a small concert by the end of the competition.
» Chick?
The further the Blues go at the 2022 World Cup, the more time Aurélien Tchouameni will have to improve.
All beneficial.
