A new chapter is about to open in the France team. After nearly fifteen years with the Blues and no less than 145 selections, Hugo Lloris has indeed decided to retire from international football. A difficult decision to take for Didier Deschamps, who has decided to continue the adventure until 2026.
“When a person is driven by a deep conviction, he does not make a decision on a whim. It is well thought out. I understand his decision even if I regret it, he explained, Wednesday, on the sidelines of a Yellow Pieces operation. He is someone who has been very important for the France team both on a human level and on a sporting level. I tell you what I told him. I’ll miss him. We will miss him. »
Maignan still on the side
And the absence of the former Lyonnais is likely to be particularly felt during the next outing of the Blues. While the France team must face the Netherlands and Ireland on March 24 and 27, Mike Maignan, expected as the successor to Hugo Lloris, does not see the end of the tunnel. On the flank since September due to a calf injury, the Milan goalkeeper will not be restored for many weeks.
To believe the Gazzetta dello Sport, the former Lille resident will not push back the lawns for at least 40 or 50 days. If a return at the end of February or the beginning of March would allow him to be operational in time, a new postponement for the one who has been injured since September 22 would force Didier Deschamps to find a new starting goalkeeper for the two matches against the Netherlands and the ‘Ireland.
Several goalkeepers are in the running: Alphonse Areola, who has the advantage of knowing the blue house well but must be content with a role of understudy at West Ham, Alban Lafont, who has taken on a new dimension at FC Nantes, Ilan Meslier, very in sight with Leeds, or Brice Samba, one of the sensations of the last few months at RC Lens.
