World Cup 2022: Hugo Lloris, guardian of the French temple and record holder in blue
The goalkeeper of the French football team, Hugo Lloris.
REUTERS - MATTHEW CHILDS
Text by: David Kalfa Follow
3 mins
Hugo Lloris should become, except surprise, the player having played the most matches in the French men's football team with 143 selections, this December 10, 2022 in Lusail, in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup. Record which he co-holds for the moment with with Lilian Thuram.
A doubly symbolic meeting for the goalkeeper since he will face England, a nation where he has played for ten years, with the Tottenham club.
Advertising
Read more
From our Special Envoy in Doha,
Hugo Lloris left the England match-eve press conference without the slightest question about his upcoming record.
This December 10, 2022 in Lusail, the goalkeeper of the French men's team should however mark the history of French football.
He will indeed play – except for a last minute incident – his 143rd match in blue and therefore overtake former defender Lilian Thuram (142 games, from 1994 to 2008), whom he equaled on December 4.
The doorman should not have been unhappy to leave the auditorium of the Qatar National Convention Center without having to comment on this distinction, which is as honorary as it is individual.
The kind of subject that is not really the cup of tea of this apostle of the collective.
“
It is not nothing and I am very honored by these figures
, had indicated the person concerned, when equaling Thuram.
But, in my eyes, this competition comes first.
And I want to keep all my energy and all my focus
(sic)
for the next match.
[…] It is something that I would probably appreciate more once the
World Cup
is over
”.
Mastery, maturity and longevity
At 35, Hugo Lloris remains more than ever in control of his interventions, both on and off the pitch.
A calm – at least apparent – and an early maturity that allowed him to go through different eras, sometimes much less glorious.
The Niçois, who made his debut at OGC (2205-2008) before spending four seasons at Olympique Lyonnais (2008-2012), indeed started in the selection under the direction of Raymond Domenech, on November 19 2008, in a 0-0 draw against Uruguay.
He has known everything, from the tricolor humiliation during the 2010 World Cup with the players' strike in Knysna to the coronation in Russia in 2018, passing through several transition seasons.
"
Achieving this in a career and staying at the highest level for 10 to 12 years without ever getting injured shows how consistent he has been
," said Guy Stephan, assistant to coach Didier Deschamps.
In fact, Hugo Lloris has always been able to remain equal to himself, allowing him to remain (almost always) holder both in the France team and at Tottenham, and this for almost a decade.
The former Lyonnais thus wore the French armband for the first time at only 23 years old, on November 17, 2010… against England.
“
Hugo is a fantastic captain and a good friend
,” said his English counterpart and teammate in London, Harry Kane.
He deserves to break this record.
He is a reigning world champion and a fantastic player
”.
The (future) record holder should however play his last World Cup.
And who knows?
Maybe even his last international tournament with the France team?
After carrying the Blues very high, without ever pulling the cover to him.
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
Soccer
France
Sports
World Cup 2022