At 29, and at a time when millions of French people are demonstrating against the pension reform, the age of his departure may seem incongruous. However, Thursday, February 2, Raphaël Varane announced that he was ending his international career, but not his career as a professional footballer. “I’ve been thinking about it for several months and decided it was the right time.he wrote on Instagram. The time has come for a new generation to take over. We have a group of talented young players who are ready to take over. »
2018 world champion, the central defender honored 93 selections in the blue jersey (13e most capped player in history), which he wore for the first time ten years ago, already under the orders of Didier Deschamps. It was March 22, 2013, at the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis (Seine-Saint-Denis), against Georgia (3-1) in qualifying for the 2014 World Cup. His last selection will therefore remain the world final lost against Argentina, December 18, 2022, in Qatar. In his farewell message, the Manchester United player prefers to evoke the good times of the coronation in Russia: “We brought the Cup home. I will never forget him. »
Pillar of the defense of the Blues for ten years, Varane was trained at Racing Club de Lens, which he left in 2011 to join Real Madrid at the age of 17, with whom he won four Champions League. In 2021, he joined Manchester United, whose colors he still defends. The Northerner has worn the captain’s armband of the France team twenty times, including sixteen times from the kick-off. He was also the second youngest captain of the Blues, at the age of 21 years, 5 months and 21 days.
Deschamps “respects his decision”
Key man of Didier Deschamps, the newly retired was the coach’s first campaign, completed in the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup. He was forfeited for Euro 2016 at home due to an injury, a tear in the biceps femoris muscle LEFT. In 2018, he took his revenge by playing all seven games towards victory in Russia. Impressive throughout the tournament, he even scored with a header to open the scoring against Uruguay in the quarter-finals. In a press release, the FFF recalls its last tricolor title: “The 2021 Nations League won in Milan at the expense of Spain. For that and everything else, a huge thank you, Rapha! »
Marked by numerous injuries in recent seasons, the tall defender (1.91 meters) almost missed the last World Cup. In October, during a Premier League shock against Chelsea, he came out in tears, certainly imagining himself forfeited for the big meeting. His presence is uncertain until the last minute, but he is finally in the list of the Blues, even if he was preserved in the first match against Australia. He then played 75 minutes, then 67, against Denmark and Tunisia. He then played all of the knockout matches against Poland, England and Morocco. In the final, he lasted 113 minutes against Argentina.
You have 38.32% of this article left to read. The following is for subscribers only.