They arrived within two penalties of a world title, which would have been the second in a row, cordially hating each other. The French surrendered only at theArgentina Of Leo Messi and you Emiliano Martinezprotagonist of an amazing save at the end of the second overtime on a shot by Colonel Muaniafter defeating one of the strongest and at the same time sneaky opponents around: the split locker room.
Pavard, from immovable owner to fixed substitute
Romain Molinaone of the most famous French sports investigative journalists, revealed that in the dressing room of the team coached by Didier Deschamps there was a spy. As per the manual, the most unexpected: Benjamin Pavardright back of Bavaria Munich. Immovable owner in world qualifiers and also in the first match of the tournament, against Australiathe former Lille defender was then an unused substitute for all six of the following matches. In its place Jules “Lil” Koundé. And when the Barcelona player also refused, the coach preferred to adapt a centre-back like Axel Disassi rather than trust Pavard again.
The argument between Deschamps and Pavard after the match against Australia
L’Squad tells of a very animated confrontation, after the match against Australia on November 22nd, between Deschamps and the Bayern player, who would not have accepted the coach’s severe tactical remarks. Lori and Giroud they tried to mediate, supporting their partner, but the tones immediately became too heated, because the coach felt betrayed by a player who in the past had always protected and defended, despite the criticisms received for not up to par performances. Pavard reacted in the worst way in the training sessions of the following days, often replying to Deschamps and his staff. Really, during the final against Argentina he allegedly said to the former Juventus midfielder: “Are you going to let Koundé out or not? He thinks he’s Pop Smoke with his son of a bitch chain”. Pop Smoke was an American rapper, who died in 2020, just 20 years old, during a robbery in his Hollywood Hills villa. Deschamps got furious and hit him back hard, in the middle of the match.
Pavard and those leaked to the French press on the Benzema affair
In short, a toxic climate in the French locker room, fueled by the suspicion that Pavard was the mole thanks to which the newspapers, theSquad first of all, they learned of the affair Benzema: the slight muscle injury from the Ballon d’Or used by the coach as a pretext to send him home, a decision strongly desired by Griezmann and Giroud and not hindered by Mbappe.
Benzema and farewell to France
That the relations between the centre-forward of the real Madrid and the national team were very tense, the facts later confirmed it: once recovered, Benzema was not called up to Qatar (it was possible to do so because he had not been replaced in the squad list). Deschamps has always kept a close eye on the subject: “I am concerned with those who are here on retreat, not with those who are not there”. But it was the behavior of Benzema that spoke, who first sensationally declined the president’s invitation Macron to watch the final against Argentina with him in the stands and then, when the rumors about Deschamps’ confirmation took shape, he announced his farewell to France. Moves and decisions anticipated by the press, prompted – this is the very strong suspicion – by Pavard himself.
France, Benzema leaves the national team: the Ballon d’Or is en route with coach Deschamps
by the Sport editorial staff
