According to Spanish newspaper AS, a year and a half ago, Bradley Barcola had not yet taken his first official steps in his professional career. His club, Lyon, was planning to loan him to Switzerland to give him more playing time. However, a series of unexpected player injuries unexpectedly paved the way for him to quickly reach the starting lineup, and since then, his professional career has taken off. Barcola’s impressive performances at Lyon caught the eye of Paris Saint-Germain and earned the favour of Paris coach Enrique, ultimately leading to his transfer to Paris for a fee of €45 million.
At Paris Saint-Germain, Barcola quickly proved his worth, becoming a key part of Enrique’s tactical plans. To free up the left wing for him, he even adjusted Mbappe to the centre-forward role. His impressive performance in his first season earned him a place in the French national team under Deschamps, and he made his first start in the match against Poland.
The pairing of Barcola and Mbappe has brought hope to France, who struggled to win in the group stages of the European Championship, failing to beat Poland. Despite the team’s overall poor performance, the duo created multiple scoring chances on the pitch and produced several impressive combinations. Although Barcola was substituted at half-time, his performance was enough to make Deschamps seriously consider giving him a starting role in the upcoming do-or-die match against Belgium.
Deschamps is currently facing a dilemma in terms of team selection. He needs to ensure the team qualifies for the last eight, and his previous team selection seems to have raised more questions than answers. Griezmann’s position is particularly delicate. If Barcola is fixed on the left wing, Griezmann may risk losing his starting place. Griezmann did not start the Poland game and was publicly criticised by Deschamps for his slow pressure in the second half.
Barcola’s rise in the football world has been rapid. He is not only a valuable asset to Mbappe at the European Championship, but also a rising star who can effectively exploit space and create threats. Deschamps has this trump card in the upcoming clash against Belgium. Whether he starts or comes on as a substitute, Barcola could be the key to turning the tide of the game. Now, the ball is in Deschamps’ court. He must learn from past mistakes and ensure that France bounce back strongly, avoiding a repeat of the group stage disappointment.
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