Aurelien Tchouameni He was 18 years old when he watched his country, France, lift the 2018 Russia World Cup trophy against Croatia more than 2,800 kilometers from home. But now, in 2022, the young midfielder was one of the starters in the duel between the French and Croatians in the UEFA Nations League.
The renewal of both teams is being consolidated just five months after they return to participate in a world Cupnow in Qatar 2022. Tchouameni He is one of the most notorious names in that generational change of the French team, to the extent that he has been linked to a millionaire transfer to Real Madrid during this summer of transfers.
With him and other young figures in the field, such as Christopher Nkunku, Matteo Guendouzi and Moussa Diabywho do not exceed 25 years of age, France visited Croatia in matchday 2 of League A of the UEFA Nations League 2022-23, obtaining a tie at one thanks to the goals of adrien rabiot (52′) and from Andrew Kramaric (83′).
This was the third meeting between the French and the Croats after that cardiac event in the final of Russia 2018, where the Gauls obtained their second star by a score of 4-2 and in which the figure of the youthful Kylian Mbappé was consecrated.
In total, since 1998, France and Croatia have met nine times in all kinds of matches: World Cups, European Championships, friendlies and European qualifiers, with a balance of six wins for the French and only three draws. The Croatian fans were hoping for their first home win during matchday 2 of the Nations League, but they settled for a tie that they obtained in the last 10 minutes.
France Y Croatiabeside Denmark Y Austriaare located in Group A of League A of the Nations League, that is, they are in the sector with the best classification for the European teams. The French are the current champions of the tournament, after winning five of their six games in the 2020-21 edition, including again a series against Croatia.
Thanks to the fact that both teams qualified for the Qatar 2022 World Cup in November, without having to go through the European playoffs between March and June, they have been able to experiment in their squads with calling up new groups of players, seeking to expand the repertoire of options for the international fair that, for the first time, will be held in winter and not in summer.
That is why the French coach, Didier Deschampswho on July 8 will be serving 10 years at the helm of the French team, has decided to give minutes to players like Aurelien Tchouameni, Christopher Nkunku, Matteo Guendouzi Y Moussa Diaby as holders within the Nations League.
In the match against Croatia, Deschamps also decided to leave benchmarks such as Kylian Mbappe and the veteran Karim Benzema, who thanks to his good time with Real Madrid is about to return to a World Cup after eight years of absence, since his last participation was in Brazil 2014.
Deschamps preferred to give space to players who have not played more than 20 games for the national team, such as the goalkeeper mike maignanrecently champion of Italy with AC Milan and who replaced the captain Hugo Lloris; Another new name was William Salibaa 21-year-old central defender who plays for Olympic of Marseilles and took advantage of ownership in an area that is normally protected by raphael varanecurrently injured.
Croatia, for its part, kept a line-up more in line with what is expected in the Qatar World Cupwith an experienced midfield with Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic Y Marcelo Brozovic, who were present in the final of Russia 2018 against the French team.
The Croatian national team, managed since 2017 by Zlatko Dalićplans to give continuity to what has been its best generation in the history of the World Cups, that is, the one that achieved the runner-up position in 2018 with names like modric, Kovacicbut also with Domagoj Life and Dominik Livakovicwho started against France in the Nations League.
Nevertheless, Daliclike Deschampsgave opportunity to young people under 25 years of age in the duel against France, such as the attackers Josip Brekalo (from Turin FC) and Lovro Majer (from Stade Rennais FC), as well as midfielder luka sucic (Red Bull Salzburg), who is considered to be Modric’s generational replacement in the central zone of the field.
On matchday 3 of the Nations Leagueto be held on Friday June 10, France will visit Austria and Croatia to Denmark, while on matchday 4, Monday 13, France will have to pay for Croatia’s visit to the Stade de France, in Saint Denis.