Odobert, Keita, Semedo Varela… who are the Blueberries to follow at the U20 World Cup

2023-05-23 01:11:54

Ten years after the coronation of the 1993-1994 generation, led by Areola, Digne, Pogba, Veretout and even Thauvin, the France under-20 team is taking part in the World Cup, organized in Argentina (May 20- June 11), with many absent after a dozen clubs informed the FFF that they would not release their players.

No Malo Gusto, Elye Wahi, Edouard Michut, Mathys Tel or Eliesse Ben Seghir in Landry Chauvin’s list. The coach had to adapt to the withdrawal of his best players. Their absence could allow others to reveal themselves. Before the first group match, this Monday against South Korea (8 p.m., La Chaîne L’Équipe), we present to you four Bleuets that you will have to follow in particular on this tournament.

Wilson Odobert, le petit prince

The little Prince. This is how it is nicknamed near Troyes. Arrived last summer from PSG, the 18-year-old striker, upgraded for the World Cup, revealed himself for his first season in the elite. On the right, on the left or under the attacker, the child of Trilport (Seine-et-Marne) signed several remarkable performances. His ease with the ball and his ability to create danger in the opposing defense makes him a spectacular player.

He will gain in consistency over the years and, despite his club’s difficult season (relegated to Ligue 2), he was one of the few to do well (4 goals, 2 assists). Extended until 2027 in January, Odobert relies on a daily basis on the same freshness and dynamism that were his strength in the youth teams of Paris. Last March, he scored with a goal with the U19 selection against Northern Ireland.

Cheick Keita, beating him

Defender Cheick Keita, here against Ajaccio on March 5, 2023, has participated in nine games in all competitions with Reims where he has revealed himself this season. 2023 Icon Sport

That’s a beautiful story. Revealed in Saint-Brice (Val-d’Oise) at the regional level, the 20-year-old central defender was not necessarily intended for the professional course. It was not until 2020 that he joined the Reims academy on the advice of recruiter Lévis Jean-Louis. A meeting that launched his career. The smiling and hardworking boy impresses but he gets injured and will go almost a year without playing last season. Today he is the revelation of the Champagne club.

After having chained good performances in reserve (N2), he moved up to the first team where he was able to seize the opportunity to settle. Good in the duel, intelligent in one against one, he has played 8 Ligue 1 matches, including 6 since the start of the year. He will be one of the basic men of the coach who knows he can count on him in the axis or in the corridor.

Jordan Semedo Varela, the regular

He obviously would have been there even without the packages. Systematically called up since September (8 selections), the 20-year-old left-back or piston has not yet exploded at the highest level but it offers certain guarantees for Landry Chauvin. Captain of the Elite Group of AS Monaco, he is distinguished by his leadership, his qualities of speed and percussion. Born in Nice (Alpes-Maritimes), he has shown in recent friendlies that he is a solid element in his attacking contribution.

He scored against OM with a nice curling free kick and gave an assist against Braga before the rally. From the point of view of his trainers, he is able to improve his defensive game, in particular his aggressiveness in duels, which may explain why he does not yet enter Philippe Clement’s rotation in the first team.

Malamine Efekele, la promesse

Another talent from the Monegasque team. Turned professional last August with his friends Eliesse Ben Seghir and Edan Diop, the former resident of AS Bondy and INF Clairefontaine – like a certain Kylian Mbappé – has been identified for some time as a very promising player. . The 18-year-old striker finds himself upgraded for the World Cup, only two months after honoring his first summons to Blue, with the U19s (1 goal).

A rise in line with its very good start to the year. Accustomed to the Elite Group on the Rock, he went back down to play with the under-19s at the end of the season in order to secure their retention. He scored against Cannes. Fearsome when he takes the depth, he can then assert his burst of speed on the front of the attack or on a side where we have already seen him shine.