2023-10-18 01:27:54
Benjamin Pavard, double providential scorer against Scotland. SAMEER AL-DOUMY / AFP
Author of a double against Scotland, the Inter player looks back on his performance and sends a message to the coach about his position on the pitch.
Special envoy to Villeneuve d’Ascq
A dream evening. Since the time he has expressed his desire to evolve in the axis of the Blues’ defense, instead of occupying the right lane, Benjamin Pavard has linked actions to words. Tuesday evening against Scotland (4-1), author of a double, he was quite simply the man of the match. Just that. From his 52 caps, he scored his 4th and 5th goal with the French team, one more than Ousmane Dembélé, but above all met all expectations. After his XXL performance, he sends a message to his coach and positions himself in the fierce competition for this position.
«Overall, I felt very good, there is a very good atmosphere in the team, admits the Northerner, who played in front of his family and friends on Tuesday evening. I felt like I could score in this match. Someone told me I was going to do it and he was right, so much the better. The triple ? Maybe next time (smile).» Relaunched on his match, he did not make any tongues. “I didn’t have any pressure, it was more the journalists who wanted to put it on me… I was sure of myself. Since I have been at Inter, I have had a string of good performances. In this position (central defender), I feel really good and I think that was felt defensively and offensively. I’m very happy. Central defender ? It’s nice and I thank the coach. He trusted me in this position. Before, I played right back. Everyone has seen that central defender is my best position. We’ll see what happens next, but I’m very happy.»
“I don’t give in, I decide”
Deschamps on the replacement of Pavard in the axis
What about Didier Deschamps’ opinion? “I don’t give in, I decidehe specifies about his choice to place Pavard back in the axis. I knew what his wish was, but when I see him in difficulty and losing confidence, even uncomfortable, I see that he took advantage of the playing time. In addition, he ends up with the armband, at him, it’s a very nice evening.»
Benjamin Pavard FRANCK FIFE / AFP
Pavard offers himself the right to enter the competition, it is already a first big victory
His attractive copy against Scotland now places him in a good place in the long list of central players likely to play for the France team. Upamecano and Konaté, authors of a great World Cup, are in front, just like Lucas Hernandez, but Pavard has qualities to demonstrate against Kimpembe, Disasi, Saliba, or even Badiashile and Fofana. His versatility, even if he no longer likes to play on the side, can also come into play when Deschamps has to compose his list of 23 for the Euro.
«There is great competition, a lot of great players in this position. We pull ourselves up. We saw the matches before, they had already been huge, like us this evening. It’s good. The competition is healthy, we will continue to move forward, work as a club to, I hope, return to the selection. Score points for the Euro? I go through my matches, I don’t ask myself any questions. There is competition. It is up to the coach to make his selection. In any case, I responded this evening and I hope that I will have other opportunities.” As early as next November against Gibraltar and Greece?
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