By leaving his place to Rayan Cherki this Thursday shortly after the hour mark against Italy (2-1 victory), Khéphren Thuram joined the bench and was finally able to breathe. Like many of his teammates, the midfielder is coming out of a grueling exercise. Victim of a muscle injury to the right thigh at the end of the season, the Niçois missed the last three days of Ligue 1 and landed at Euro Espoirs in far from optimal form.
After his generally mediocre match against the band at Sandro Tonali, Sylvain Ripoll came to his rescue. “Khéphren brings us his leadership and his ability to keep the ball, the tricolor coach reminded L’Équipe. We cannot ask him for the impossible. He hadn’t played for almost five weeks.
“He made the effort and we organized ourselves so that he could participate in part of the match because he is a very important boy in our group. I did not expect him to be flamboyant, especially on the physical level, “said the 51-year-old technician.
As the Bleuets prepare to face Norway in this second group match, the tenure of Khéphren Thuram (22) is a thorny subject. As L’Equipe reports, the good entry of Rayan Cherki and the idea of using the Lyonnais against the Norwegian low block to find breaches could lead the coach to review his plans in midfield.
Maxence Caqueret is captain and therefore untouchable. At his side, Manu Koné has a profile similar to that of Khéphren Thuram but seems fresher than the latter at the end of the extended season. The son of Lilian Thuram would therefore pay the price and would then come out of 11.
The only player of the 23 Espoirs to have gleaned a cape with the A (last March against the Netherlands), the native of Reggio Emilia (Italy) could rest in order to come back in force for the last group match against Switzerland. Before one, in case of victory against Norway, exciting quarter-final to experience?
Because although blunt, the last of the Thuram siblings has every interest in showing himself under his best auspices before the end of the competition. Very coveted, he should change his tune this summer with a substantial transfer at stake.
While his name is regularly associated with PSG, it is rather with Liverpool that he could continue his rise to the highest level. The Niçois, however, assured the UNFP Trophies ceremony: “For the moment, I am in Nice, it is going very well, I really like the club, so I still see myself here in the future”.
Either way, his final decision on his future will be made the day after the Euros, not before. While he is gradually making a place for himself in Didier Deschamps’ group, Khéphren Thuram has his last chance during this Euro Espoirs to win a trophy with this golden generation, his group of friends. See you on July 8 in Batumi, Georgia to celebrate?
