Article by Remus Dinu – Published Saturday, December 17, 2022, 5:28 p.m. / Updated Saturday, December 17, 2022, 5:35 p.m.
Steven Thicot (35 years old), former defender at Dinamo between 2013 and 2014, European champion with the French U17 national team almost two decades ago, spoke about the secrets and strengths of “Les Bleus” in the grand final with Argentina on Sundayin an exclusive interview for GSP.ro.
“Tikito”, as Dinamo fans remember the defender who spent time with the “dogs” between 2014 and 2015, currently in Scotland, at a team in the third echelon, makes a thorough analysis of the French national team, who will battle Leo Messi’s Argentina tomorrow for the most coveted trophy in football.
The Roosters’ former team-mate of Benzema, Nasri and Ben Arfa also talks about the importance of the “Deschamps factor”, with the coach just one game away from a major triumph.
FRANCE
To the “knives” » The childish reason why the Deschamps – Benzema relationship would have broken up. He is ready to boycott the final!
Steven Thicot: “The key to the game will be to block Messi and not concede the first goal”
“I am optimistic because I was in this situation four years ago and I know that we will make history if we prevail tomorrow. I could say that the chances are 50-50%, we are facing a great national team, that of Argentina.
I think France has multiple options to block Messi, but I’m not the Deschamps coach. I’m sure he knows how to pull this off. He will probably opt for a player who will “man mark” Messi (no – who will always double in the area where the Argentine is, most likely Tchouameni is the chosen one).
The key to the game will be to block Messi and not concede the first goal. It is true that we have some medical problems, that could be a big advantage for Argentina, but the whole France team has amazing qualities, so if one of the players has to be replaced, the one who comes in his place will do the job at perfection”, said Thicot, for Gazeta Sporturilor.
Thicot: “The secret of France? Total confidence in Deschamps”
“The secret of this team? Total, unconditional confidence in Didier Deschamps. He’s always had a winning mentality, he’s proving to the whole world that he can pass that on to any team he coaches. He was already a very successful player, and that helps a lot.
To be honest, I think we have the best national team in the world, the mix of qualities of the players is downright unreal! The team is amazing, since they have reached two World Cup finals in a row. It’s a formidable achievement. I hope that tomorrow they will be able to make the whole country proud once again”, said the Frenchman born in Montreuil-sous-Bois, a town in the north-east of Paris.
Place your predictions on the match Argentina – France for free and you can win 1,200 lei in cash! Total prizes of 4,000 lei.
Thicot, European U17 champion with France
Thicot never got to play in the first team of France, but he has a remarkable performance in his CV. In 2004, he was a starter in the defense of the U17 French national team, which won the European Championship of that age category. In fact, he was the captain of “Les Bleus” in that edition!
With Thicot, Nasri, Ben Arfa or Jeremy Menez in the field, but also with Benzema on the bench, the French beat Spain in the final, 2-1.
Names such as Gerard Pique, Cesc Fabregas, Marc Pedraza or Antonio Adan, the former goalkeeper of Real, played for “Furia Roja”.
In the U19 national team, “Tikito” would also captain Karim Benzema, France’s great absentee from the World Championship. However, the two had different trajectories in their careers.
The unmistakable Benzema, top row, and Steven Thicot (number 5), in the U19 France national team / Photo source: Imago Images
2 goalsThicot scored in 20 games for Dinamo
VIDEO All the information before the big final Argentina – France
Read other news about the French national team:
To the “knives” » The childish reason why the Deschamps – Benzema relationship would have broken up. He is ready to boycott the final!
“Embarrassing to say the least” » Deschamps, sharp at the conference before the final: “I know that some French people also stick with Argentina”
Ousmane Dembele, duel with Leo Messi in the World Cup final » What he says about his former teammate before Argentina – France: “He taught me to do this”
