Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola turned the tide for the French national team. Coming on as a substitute in the 80th minute against Senegal, he immediately found the net, boosting competition on the left flank and earning the coach’s trust ahead of the crucial match against Iraq, according to the French media.
“I knew there would be plenty of space when I came on. From the bench, they told me: if you chip the ball, it will go in. That’s exactly what I did, and it worked,” Barcola said after the game.
His rival, Désiré Doué, had been considered Didier Deschamps’ favorite due to his defensive abilities, but Barcola’s impressive performance shifted the balance. Deschamps emphasized the significance of such an impact: “What Barcola did is exactly what the others need to bring. When you come off the bench, you have to offer something new.”
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