In Clairefontaine
Playing both the Euros and the Olympics. There are those who speak of it as a vague hypothesis. And then those who could really be affected. Lucas Chevalier is one of them. Summoned with Thierry Henry’s French U23 team this week for the last gathering before the Olympics, the LOSC goalkeeper undoubtedly has his name written somewhere in Didier Deschamps’ little papers. If the Blues will, without much surprise, go to Germany (June 14-July 14) with Mike Maignan, Brice Samba and Alphonse Areola, the young Lucas Chevalier should not be far behind.
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The simultaneous international retirements of Hugo Lloris and Steve Mandanda, 180 caps between them, have made some room in the hierarchy. And Lucas Chevalier, 22, is establishing himself as a reference for the position in France. Already more than 100 matches at the highest level, including 70 in Ligue 1 with Lille. “These are things that make you dream. If I can do both (Euro and Olympic Games), I will do both, he confided Tuesday at a press conference in Clairefontaine. But I don’t wish for a colleague’s injury. I prefer to play in the Olympic Games than to be a substitute at the Euro. »
The Olympic Games therefore, as a priority. Chevalier is one of the six players from the 2001 generation recalled by Thierry Henry and will therefore have to bring his experience to this young group, even if he affirms that “it is not because we are older that we have to make the big arms”. The native of Calais arrives “with simplicity”. Especially since he is not yet sure of starting despite his status. The Bleuets have been playing until now with a certain… Guillaume Stays in the cages. He also starts in Ligue 1 with Toulouse, and is only 19 years old. “I was quite surprised that he performed so well from the start with Toulouse,” confides Chevalier.
If he considers himself “favorite” for the N.1 place, the last Lille rampart assures: “I never form an idea, never a drawing, I never try to claim anything. At the Euro Espoirs (in June-July 2023, editor’s note), I assumed that I was not going to start and finally I played. Lucas Chevalier especially sees the competition in a positive light for the future of the France A team. “They can say that there are possible successions!”, he assures.
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Like everyone else, the protégé of Jérémie Janot, whom he finds in Espoirs after having rubbed shoulders with the former goalkeeper at Valenciennes, will have to count on the authorization of his club to participate in the Games. On this side, he concedes “not having discussed it in depth” with Lille but specifies that “Olivier Létang (the president of LOSC) is quite supportive”. But there is no doubt about his desire: “If they call me, I want to do them.”
