Didier Deschamps and Kylian Mbappé advice, first sessions, first words: Robin Risser’s first days with Les Bleus | OneFootball

Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser, 21, has joined France as the third-choice keeper for the World Cup in the United States from 11 June to 19 July, and he appears unfazed by the step up.

According to L'Équipe, a year ago he was battling relegation with Red Star in Ligue 2. Since then he has won the Coupe de France with Lens, 3-1 against Nice, finished second behind Paris, and moved into life at Clairefontaine as France’s number three.

He says the head coach has outlined his role and captain Kylian Mbappé has done likewise. Around the camp he will be one of the group, and on the pitch he expects to stay on after sessions to face a barrage from the forwards.

Risser considers himself ready, stressing he enjoys keeping the ball out while the strikers enjoy scoring, and he will try to frustrate them as much as possible. He has already sampled the intensity in his first three days, even with the Champions League finalists yet to report.

These early days have helped him settle, get to know team-mates and keep his place in the hierarchy. At his first press conference on Sunday he avoided tactical terrain, checking with the press officer and preferring silence rather than risk a misstep.

Mike Maignan, Brice Samba and the goalkeeping coach, whom he calls Monsieur Raviot, have told him to be himself and do what he knows. The only member of the 26 never previously called up, he was among the first to arrive on Friday, when Didier Deschamps welcomed him with a light quip about punctuality. He has discovered the two-star shirt, unlike the Under-21s, and knows that is far from the only difference.

Source: L'Équipe