Aurélien Tchouaméni set to anchor France against Senegal after standout Real season | OneFootball

After a standout season with Real Madrid, Aurélien Tchouaméni has become the heartbeat of France’s midfield ahead of their World Cup opener against Senegal in East Rutherford on Tuesday at 21:00. He will be among the first names on Didier Deschamps’ teamsheet.

According to L'Équipe, the vice-captain was rested as a precaution during Friday’s open session in Waltham, yet he stayed pitchside in the shade, closely watching his team-mates. He will be ready for the match.

Over the past two years he has become indispensable for his coaches. At Real, whether under Xabi Alonso before mid-season or successor Alvaro Arbeloa from mid-January, he logged 3,940 minutes in all competitions, behind only Vinicius Jr on 4,248 and Federico Valverde on 4,156.

Both praised his value to the team and his collective reading of the game. During last year’s Club World Cup, Alonso described him as a fundamental pillar, while Arbeloa insisted he would not use him at centre-back.

Deschamps is not expected to field him in central defence either, preferring him as the side’s centre of gravity. He values Tchouaméni’s calm, his ability to reposition the team, to step forward while ensuring midfield cover, and to direct play like a deep-lying quarterback, with improved ball recovery too. Aged 26 with 46 caps and 3 goals, he now looks the midfield leader the coach envisaged five years after his debut.

Source: L'Équipe