Author of a memorable goal that made his reputation at the 2018 World Cup against Argentina (4-3), the French Benjamin Pavard saw a real downgrade in this World Cup. Sunday, for the France-Argentina final, the defender will again be on the bench as in the last five games of the Blues.
A brilliant goal to lift you very high and, four years later, a performance to put you at the very bottom of the ladder. From one World Cup to another, Benjamin Pavard has experienced the two extremes of a football career; the happy days on a cloud and the dark nights of the loneliness of the substitute glued to the bench.
Disasi, central defender, passes in front of him
In 2018, against Argentina, in the round of 16 of the World Cup, Benjamin Pavard, this is a comment from the presenter of TFI who has remained for eternity: ” Second post, Pavaaaaard! “. It’s a song, like a hymn, among French supporters: ” Benjamin Pavard, Benjamin Pavard! I don’t think you know! It comes out of nowhere! A bastard strike, We have Benjamin Pavard ».
And therefore a goal, voted the most beautiful of the World Cup, which will above all allow France to equalize against the Albiceleste (2-2) and then go and win their second star.
In 2022, on the eve of the World Cup final against Argentina, Benjamin Pavard is a starter who has become a substitute. Worse, a substitute who has not yet replaced anyone since the start of the tournament. Because the Bayern Munich player, established at the start of the World Cup against Australia (4-1), pays for his poor performance against the Socceroos, including a great responsibility on the Australian goal. Since then, the native of Maubeuge has disappeared from the radar, even to the point of seeing central defender Axel Disasi being preferred to him during the match of ” hairdressers against Tunisia (0-1).
“Is it physical, is it the head? »
After this defeat, the French coach, Didier Deschamps, spoke about his right side holder in 2018. I made the decision not to play him. I had several exchanges with him, I consider that he is not in a good mood. You will say to me: ”Is it physical, is it the head?”. Obviously, the first match did not help him. That’s why I made a different choice “. The different choice is called Jules Koundé, now holder and who will be for the final on Sunday against Argentina.
But it must also be said that Pavard was already accompanied by doubts when he landed in Qatar. The question of the positioning of the 26-year-old player, trained as a central defender, often came up on the table as his performances, when France played with three defenders, and him as a piston, were unconvincing. The return to a four-man defense, on the eve of the World Cup, was to serve to revive it, but there was Australia. And there won’t be Argentina again…