A year and a half ago, Bradley Barcola had not made his professional debut, while his club, Lyon, was looking to loan him, being one step away from Swiss football, so that he would have more opportunities. As fate would have it, a plague of injuries opened the doors of ownership for him, leading to an unstoppable rise.His performances at Olympique Lyon did not go unnoticed by PSG, nor by Luis Enrique, who convinced him to join the Parisian club.
PSG paid 45 million to sign him and the player was quick to respond. He became a fundamental piece for Luis Enrique, forced to place Mbappé as ‘9’, his partner now with France, so that Barcola had minutes on the left wing. After an extraordinary first season, Didier Deschamps did not hesitate to call him up for the Euro Cup, in which he made his debut as a starter last Tuesday, in Dortmund, in a 1-1 draw against Poland.
Barcola was, precisely, with Mbappé, an oasis in the French desert, unable to beat an eliminated team, ending a disappointing group stage and with many doubts before the game against Belgium. As in PSG, both generated several of the clearest opportunities of the game, two in the first half and another after leaving the locker room.The winger was substituted but made a positive impression on Deschamps, who could start him on Monday against Belgium.
The French coach is still mulling over the line-up with which he will try to qualify for the quarter-finals, aware that the decisions he has made so far have raised more doubts than certainties. One of them, Antoine Griezmann, who could be the victim if Barcola ends up playing as a left winger.Against Poland, the Atlético player was not in the starting line-up and, after the match, Deschamps reproached him for having been late to respond to pressure in the second half.
Barcola has quickly established himself in football. Mbappé, who has led the way in the Euro Cup, has found in his former teammate a partner with whom he can generate danger and with which to attack spaces. The last word goes to Deschamps, who will have to take a step forward on Monday, against Belgium, and avoid past mistakes that cost them first place in the first round of the Euros. A diamond that France has and that is capable of making a difference as a starter and as a substitute.
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