Bayern Munich and France men’s national defender Dayot Upamecano is a mainstay these days for club and country — an incredible feat, especially considering the talent available over the years to both sides. But he did not always look like a lock to be a lock in each team’s XI.
Bayern fans will recall when Upamecano was the target of criticism following some Champions League exits earlier in his tenure. His time at France was not the smoothest sailing either, in the beginning.
For France national team
coach Didier Deschamps? All part of the journey.
“Dayot had a complicated start [with the French national team]. Today he’s certainly one of the best defenders in the world,” Deschamps explained in the tournament aftermath in comments captured via @iMiaSanMia. “He has incredible athletic strength and he can do everything. It takes time to reach the next level.”
Patience brought reward for both Les Bleus and FC Bayern. In this World Cup, we saw Upamecano at his best: a dynamic and combative defender, able to charge and win duels up the field as well as track back to cover big gaps in transition. The 27-year-old is even able to surge forward with the ball at his feet and contribute on offense — as he showed in France’s third-place match against England, when he notched an assist in his second half substitute appearance.
Join the conversation!
Sign up for a user account and get:
- New, improved notifications system!
- Fewer ads
- Create community posts
- Comment on articles, community posts
- Rec comments, community posts
