In the same week, two monuments drew a line under their rich career in selection, started in 2008 and closed side by side in the final of the World Cup-2022 lost against Argentina (3-3 ap, 4-2 tab) .

"It allows us to come full circle with Hugo: we started together, we finish together. I did not have the same number of selections as him but I experienced a lot with him", declared Dean Mandanda, 37 years old, when announcing the end clap.

Barred by Lloris (145 selections) in the French cage, the Rennes goalkeeper appeared on 160 match sheets with the Blues, between his first cap in May 2018 and his last appearance on the bench, on December 18 in the World Cup final at Doha.

In total, he still stacked 35 selections over two seven years, which places him sixth among the most used goalkeepers in the history of the Blues, ahead of Grégory Coupet.

"More than a second goalkeeper"

Mandanda served France "for sixteen seasons, not always in the role he would have liked. But he always showed great professionalism, total involvement and always had the concern to put the collective in before," reacted coach Didier Deschamps.

"Very appreciated by the players and the staff, very respected too, he was, in everyone's eyes, more than a second goalkeeper".

French goalkeeper Steve Mandanda against Tunisia, during the World Cup in Qatar, November 30, 2022 in Doha © Antonin THUILLIER / AFP/Archives

In fact, he has established himself as a tutelary figure in the locker room, with "a big brother role for each of us", as vice-captain Raphaël Varane said from Qatar, depicting "a comforting, reassuring word “, able to” relay to the staff “.

The goalkeeper born in Kinshasa, trained in Évreux and revealed in Le Havre, invited himself to Doha thanks to Maignan's package, of course, but also thanks to the nice rebound made after a 2021-2022 season where he lost big: his starting position at OM and his place at all with the Blues.

Leaving to relaunch successfully in Rennes, he resurfaced in selection, with a recall in September followed by a summons in November for the World Cup.

'El Fenomeno' made his 35th and final cap in the final World Cup group match on 30 November in Doha, a 1-0 loss to Tunisia in which he became the oldest player in the league. story in the tricolor jersey.

No alternative to Maignan

Since his debut in May 2008, the historic N.16 of the Blues has lived through four Euro finals and three World Cups, only missing the 2014 World Cup through injury.

"I had great moments with the France team, it was a privilege and a joy for me to spend all these moments. But at 37, I think it's the right time" to give way , especially since "young people arrive behind with a lot of qualities", he said on Saturday.

The departure of Lloris and Mandanda, 2018 world champions, leaves a void that Deschamps will have to fill by the resumption on March 24 against the Netherlands at the start of qualifying for Euro-2024.

AC Milan's French goalkeeper Mike Maignan during a match against Naples, September 18, 2022 at San Siro © MIGUEL MEDINA / AFP/Archives

The succession will be ensured by Maignan (5 selections), the goalkeeper of AC Milan, international since 2019 and who offers all the sporting guarantees to become N.1.

Unless his physical concerns, which made him miss the World Cup, come to disturb his deprivation of power.

Behind Maignan, holder in a big club and in the Champions League, other French goalkeepers appear (Alphonse Areola, Alban Lafont, Illan Meslier ...) but none seem for the moment able to win with the Blues .

© 2023 AFP