Florian Thauvin shines at Lens, French coach attentive
Florian Thauvin, 33, has been living under the RC Lens shirt since the start of the season. In eight Ligue 1 matches, the 2018 World Cup champion has scored four goals and provided eight assists, reigniting the debate about a possible recall to the French national team.
Brilliant performance in the North
The captain of the northern club, nicknamed the Blood and Gold, establishes himself as the strong link in the attack. His four goals and eight creations in just eight matches make him one of the best players in Ligue 1 this season. He leads Lens with a presence that dominates the pitch.
Ambitions expressed after the victory over Paris FC
After the win against Paris FC, the former Marseille player said: “As a competitor, my goal is to go there, but it’s not up to me to demand it. I have to give myself every chance on my side. Today, I show every weekend that I am performing, but then we trust our legend, our coach.” These remarks, addressed to Zinedine Zidane, convey a clear intention while remaining measured.
On RMC, former striker Christophe Dugarry sounded optimistic. He said: “He has performances that make you think about him even more than others perhaps. Honestly, I wish him more call‑ups. It smells good anyway, even if I have no information. But when you see that at the last gathering Zizou was able to reward a boy like Lepaul, why not reward Thauvin as well… It feels like Zizou is in this logic of rewarding players who are in form and have an impeccable mindset.”
Reservations from Clément Grenier
Consultant Clément Grenier, appearing on Ligue 1+, acknowledged that Thauvin “deserves to get back into that blue shirt” thanks to his recent performances. He nevertheless reminded that, at 33, the player does not represent the future of the French national team, highlighting the generational dilemma the coach must face.
The competition remains fierce: Michael Olise, Maghnes Akliouche, Ousmane Dembélé, Rayan Cherki, Kylian Mbappé and Désiré Doué already hold places in the squad. Grenier notes that Olise shares a similar profile, able to play on the right and cut inside on his left foot, while Akliouche and Cherki provide other offensive options.
Thus, the debate over Thauvin’s return to the French national team persists, each performance in the North fueling the discussions. Coach Zinedine Zidane will have to weigh the player’s experience against youth and attacking depth before making a decision.