In the group of 25 players called up by Didier Deschamps, eight play or have played in Germany. Young French players are popular on this side of the border, especially the youngsters, whom German clubs do not hesitate to launch. Every Frenchman has his own story across the Rhine.
Benjamin Pavard (Stuttgart 2016-2019, Bayern Munich 2019-2023)
He is one of those players that the general public did not discover in France, but on the other side of the border. Benjamin Pavard left LOSC at 20 years old when he had a substitute status. Direction Stuttgart and the German second division, to get some playing time. A successful bet since Pavard, 2018 world champion, became a leader there and was noticed by Didier Deschamps. What followed was the madness surrounding his goal, his song, his popularity… He signed with the biggest club in Germany, Bayern Munich, in 2019. “The first time here was when I was 19-20, I immediately felt the German rigour, you have to give your all, he remembers. I had some wonderful years, won a lot. What I really liked were the full stadiums. I have a lot of positive things to say about it. German clubs are not afraid to launch young players. In France they don’t necessarily trust, they are not afraid in Germany. I have evolved a lot as a man and a player. You have to be on time (laughs), it’s rigour on a daily basis, there is no ‘off’ day, it’s always on the ball.”
Dayot Upamecano (RB Leipzig 2017-2021, Bayern Munich depuis 2021)
He also left France early, at 16, first heading to Salzburg, Austria. Red Bull then transferred him to Leipzig, the flagship club, with Ralf Rangnick as sporting director. “Rangnick is a very important coach for me, he brought me back to Leipzig,” explains the Evreux native. “He gave me a lot of confidence, freedom, he has a style of play that I liked, defending by advancing the pressure, I am very grateful, he helped me a lot.” Julian Nagelsmann also left his mark on the player, who worked on his positioning, his passes, and discovered a new intensity. Upamecano also met his teammate in Bleu Ibrahima Konaté there, with whom he can form the hinge in the national team. The Frenchman, who has become one of the best central defenders in the world despite a few lapses in concentration, then joined FC Bayern. He is one of the French players who knows Germany best. Can this be useful? “Not an advantage,” he replies. “Even if we know the stadiums.”
Ibrahima Konate (RB Leipzig, 2017-2021)
Ibrahima Konaté had chosen, after his professional debut at Sochaux, in Ligue 2, to take charge early in Germany, this country which trusts young people more easily. However, other prestigious clubs were attentive to him at the time. Quickly integrated into the rotation then starting despite physical problems, “Ibou” learned from Rangnick and Nagelsmann. He was associated for a period with Dayot Upamecano (51 games together), and became one of the most reliable central defenders in the Bundesgliga. His departure at 18 also allowed him to gain autonomy as a man, far from his Parisian family. A profitable choice and Liverpool made no mistake in buying him, for 40 million euros, four years after his signing in Germany.
Jonathan Clauss (Linx 2013-2015, Arminia Bielefeld, 2018-2020)
His story has been told many times. Jonathan Clauss played for the first time in Germany at Linx, in the 5th division after being rejected from the Strasbourg training center and a stint at Vauban, in CFA2 at the time. But it was especially in Bundesliga 2, at Arminia Bielefeld, that he exploded from 2018. In two seasons, the Frenchman established himself as a reliable, technically clean all-around player, part of a team which moved up to the first division. Before heading to Lens, in 2020. “I’m happy to go back there (to Germany), he smiled before leaving for the Euro. That’s where it all started. It’s one of the clubs where I took a lot of pleasure in playing football again. A coach, who unfortunately passed away, gave me a second wind, the taste of being on the field, of being happy. The personal nod is very beautiful. . Returning to Germany with the rooster on my heart, it stirs up some memories, and it makes you think, it takes up space, I’m trying to avoid it, there’s something nice to do tomorrow. I’ll think about it later. Germany is always a country that has greatly benefited me through life and football.”
Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich since 2015)
He is the Frenchman living in Germany for the longest time. After his time at PSG among young people, then at Juventus Turin, Kingsley Coman joined Bayern, first on loan, then permanently in 2017. Enough to expand his impressive record, since the player with a fragile physique has 20 trophies in Bavaria . When he is not injured, Coman plays, in a country where he has adapted very well. “In my personal case, I’ve been in Germany for eight, nine years. For me, it’s a bit like home. I feel really good here, I understand the language, I speak it, I appreciate the ex -PSG player. I’m going to make my teammates feel as good as possible. Those who don’t know will discover a superb atmosphere. It’s quite open football with a lot of action and rhythm. favorable football to explode for young French people because the competition is less than in certain championships so I think it’s a great championship to explode.”
Ousmane Dembele (Borussia Dortmund, 2016-2017)
After a very successful season in Rennes, crack player Ousmane Dembélé signed for Dortmund in 2017 for 35 million Euros. The German club allows the winger to take a step forward, before going, in his mind, to an even more upscale team. “It changed my game a little because the way I played in Rennes and Dortmund was not the same, recalls the PSG player. I discovered a new system with the 5-3-2, I I learned a lot with Thomas Tuchel, also off the pitch with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as well… and a lot of things changed from Rennes to Dortmund. He learned rigor and at 19, he scored 10 goals and 22 assists in 50 matches. BVB fans are then proud to own the man who is considered one of the best players in the world in the future. But after only one season, “Dembouz” disappoints. He forced his departure to Barça and his image among the Germans has since deteriorated.
Marcus Thuram (Borussia Monchengladbach, 2019-2022)
Marcus Thuram has become a world-class player in Germany after spells at Sochaux and Guingamp. Purchased in 2019 at the age of 22 by Borussia Mönchengladbach for 9 million euros, Marcus Thuram becomes a reliable and regular player in a team set to play the European Cup (a Europa League campaign, one in the Champions League). A club to its liking, perfect for developing in a championship that loves young French people. Side player, Thuram is also starting to realign. His first selection, in 2020, came while he was in Mönchengladbach. Club that the striker leaves Germany in 2023, free, towards Inter Milan. “The last four years have been fantastic,” he said as he left. “I came here as a young player and I have developed enormously. It was exceptional to play in the Champions League with Borussia and to make my way in selection thanks to good performances I owe a lot to this club and I will never forget what they did for me. Borussia will always have a special place in my heart. The tribute from the supporters is beautiful for the Frenchman who, in four seasons, has a good record: 144 matches, 44 goals, 29 assists.
Randal Kolo-Muani (Frankfurt, 2022-2023)
A single season, with Frankfurt, was enough for the Germans to realize that Randal Kolo Muani can be an international class player. Arriving free from FC Nantes, where he revealed himself and won the Coupe de France, Kolo Muani impressed in Germany in a versatile attacking role. Able to cover all positions up front, Kolo Muani shows Europe his abilities in transition play. To the point, here too, of making his way into the French team and the 2022 World Cup. His record at Eintracht Frankfurt is quite crazy: 50 matches, 26 goals and 17 assists for his first experience at stranger. “RKM” also shows itself in the Champions League, where its team reaches the round of 16. Europe panics and PSG, for 90 million euros, ends up snatching the French international. The latter, although he dazzled Germany, left a negative image among Frankfurt supporters: his training “strike” to reach Paris at all costs will never be digested.
