Atletico Madrid signing Thomas Lemar fails to press case for France starting spot at World Cup

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  • New Atletico Madrid signing Thomas Lemar has fluffed his audition for a greater role with France in World Cup 2018’s knockout rounds.

    The €65 million (Dh278.6m) purchase from Monaco was one of six changes for already qualified Les Bleus versus Denmark as they wound up their Group C campaign with the tournament’s first goalless draw.

    Lemar contributed to a dire match at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium as the boos rained down upon the final whistle.

    STATISTICS 

    Goals – 0

    Assists – 0

    Shots – 1

    Shots on target – 0

    Touches – 63

    Passes – 51

    Key passes – 2

    Dribbles – 2

    Dispossessed – 0

    30-SECOND REPORT

    Lemar will look back at regret about this fixture.

    His first involvement at World Cup 2018 was a forgetful affair. By half-time, he’d had zero attempts on goal, plus just the ninth-most touches and passes.

    These figures improved marginally in the second period. His 63 touches and 51 passes were both the sixth-most registered by Les Bleus.

    Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele looked livelier on the opposite flank.

    GOT RIGHT

    MASTER OF EFFICIENCY – Even within an ineffectual display, Lemar’s technical acumen shone through.

    The left winger’s pass accuracy of 92.2 per cent was the best among France’s attackers – and joint-third best overall – and he wasn’t dispossessed during two dribbles.

    The quality of the 22-year-old cannot be questioned. Diego Simeone’s challenge at Atleti will be to revitalise the player and feed him into the capital club’s all-action approach.

    GOT WRONG

    DOMESTIC DOWNTURN CONTINUED – Lemar was one of European football’s revelations of 2016/17, notching 10 assists and nine goals as Monaco surprisingly tore their way to the Ligue 1 crown.

    His relative downturn in 2017/18 ensured a poor title defence was mirrored by two goals and eight assists.

    The verve of old was not present at the Luzhniki either, where he was a peripheral figure.

    KEY MOMENTS

    16th min CHANCE CREATED: Lemar fizzes the ball in and Paris Saint-Germain centre-back Presnel Kimpembe nudges a header wide.

    28th min FREE-KICK: Lemar drove inside off the left flank and won a free-kick. His set-piece is put into a dangerous area, but diligent Denmark centre-back Simon Kjaer clears it to safety.

    55th min SHOT: Popping up in the middle of the park, Lemar works some space and a fierce shot is blocked by the charging Denmark defence.

    64th min ERROR: Has to hold up his hand in apology when a pass from centre field to the flank goes straight out. Camera then cut to an upset technical staff.

    VERDICT

    Lemar was given the full fixture by Didier Deschamps to leave a mark on the competition.

    The head coach is a committed advocate of the winger. Faith, this time, that went without reward.

    Les Bleus have enviable attacking depth and this could be the last we see of Lemar. Liverpool target Nabil Fekir and Dembele both pressed stronger cases for future opportunity.

    RATING: 5/10

    All statistics are compiled using whoscored.com

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