Foot: Christopher Nkunku in the France team, a first
RB Leipzig striker Christopher Nkunku.
REUTERS - MATTHIAS RIETSCHEL
Text by: David Kalfa Follow
2 mins
Christopher Nkunku, like defender Jonathan Clauss, was called up for the France team for the first time.
The Leipzig striker, trained at PSG, multiplies the good performances in Germany and in European cups.
To the point of going to the 2022 World Cup with the Blues?
Advertising
Read more
If, in DR Congo, we could still have a small hope of attracting Christopher Nkunku to the Leopards, it probably ended on March 17, 2022. The 24-year-old striker, born in the Paris region, was indeed called for the first time in the French football team.
The Blues face Côte d'Ivoire on March 25 in Marseille and South Africa on March 29 in Villeneuve d'Ascq, in preparation matches for the 2022 World Cup.
Trained at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Christopher Alan Nkunku left PSG in 2019 for RB Leipzig, successfully.
This season, he has taken on a new dimension with 26 goals in 38 games in all competitions, including 8 in European cups (Champions League, Europa League).
“
Already last season, and this season regularly, in terms of content and efficiency, he had very, very good statistics for goals and assists
, recalled Didier Deschamps, the French coach.
His register has evolved a little compared to what it was at the start.
He was moving more sideways.
Now he is more of a central player, quasi-attacker or second striker with his club Leipzig where he has a lot of freedom.
He is closer to the goal there, which leads him to be much more decisive.
With us, its use will be in this sector, of course
”.
Fierce competition in the offensive sector
For Deschamps, these two meetings without stake in March are a good opportunity to finally test Christopher Nkunku, before making more clear-cut choices for the League of Nations meetings (June, September) then the World Cup in Qatar (November -December).
The Congolese-born player will however have to face fierce competition for a place in an attacking sector, with the essentials Antoine Griezmann, Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappé.
Not to mention Wissam Ben Yedder, Kingsley Coman, Moussa Diaby, Ousmane Dembélé, Marcus Thuram or Thomas Lemar.
His versatility could however be an asset to settle in the France team.
“
We always see on TV his goals, his assists, his juggling and his gray-grays
, explained his coach in Leipzig, Domenico Tedesco.
But Christopher is much more than that: he works, he sprints, he is very good at counter-pressing, and he obviously has offensive qualities, a very good shot with both feet, great speed and excellent ball control
. .
So many assets supposed to help him settle with the Blues and not give the DRC Leopards any regrets.
We would have preferred that your first selection be with the leopards but it will be rather with the blues!
Congratulations, I wish you a lot of success and give you an appointment in Qatar against the leopards 😉🙏🏾 @c_nk97 @FFF https://t.co/SwES0kb81L
— Herita ILUNGA (@Herita23) March 17, 2022
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_EN
Soccer
France
Sports