Ligue 1 Review | Didier Deschamps, are you watching? Corentin Tolisso stars in Lyon’s podium push

Ligue 1 Review | Didier Deschamps, are you watching? Corentin Tolisso stars in Lyon’s podium push

“I don’t even know what to say about Coco anymore. He’s an exemplary, determined captain. He shows it match after match. We’re at a loss for words regarding his performances,” Clinton Mata gushed after Olympique Lyonnais’s 4-2 victory over Stade Rennais. Corentin Tolisso, or Coco as he is affectionately known to his teammates, was at his inspired best on Sunday night as Lyon fought from behind to put one hand on the Ligue 1 podium. 

The Lyon captain was involved in three of the four goals, registering two assists and converting his 42nd-minute penalty as Lyon leapt past Lille OSC to move back into third and with it a shot at automatic qualification into the league phase of the UEFA Champions League, with only two games remaining. However, the night could have been a very different outcome when, with almost the first kick of the game, Tolisso went down clutching his head after a challenge from Rennes defender Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal. 

Both sets of players quickly surrounded him as they shielded him from view while he received treatment. Despite the initial concern and the fact that he looked visibly dazed after the duel, he was given the all-clear to continue and leave his indelible mark on a tight Champions League race. 

Didier Deschamps and the debate in Lyon

When, like last night, you see Tolisso at full pomp, controlling the tempo, orchestrating the press, and unpicking the defence, it becomes very hard to ignore the argument that has been raging in Lyon throughout this season: Coco should be in Didier Deschamps’s France plans for the upcoming summer World Cup. It’s baffled the Lyonnais that the France head coach has been as yet unmoved by the midfielder’s performances or the 14 goals he’s scored across all competitions. 

It’s been five years since he was last selected to represent France. His last of 28 caps came in the group stages of the 2020 UEFA Euros (which were, of course, rescheduled to be played in 2021 due to the disruption caused by the global pandemic). Since then, the phone has been quiet, even as he’s watched Florian Thauvin’s performances this season with RC Lens end a six-year exile from Les Bleus. 

In April, Tolisso admitted he was disappointed to miss out on the squad announcement for the March international break, which was the final international break before the World Cup. He said, “I was a bit disappointed when the last squad was announced. I believed [I would be there]. I have promised myself that I won’t talk about it in the media anymore. What will happen will happen. You can dream. I am working.”

Time running out for Corentin Tolisso

At 31 years old, it feels as if this could be his last shot at representing his nation at the World Cup, and while the door has not fully closed on the 2018 winner, the signs are not promising. According to a report from Téléfoot, Deschamps wants to take five midfielders to the World Cup, and there are already at least six players ahead of him, with Aurélien Tchouaméni, Warren Zaire-Emery, Adrien Rabiot, Manu Koné, N’Golo Kanté, and Eduardo Camavinga (with the latter the most likely to miss out). 

At the very least, Tolisso will not let the decision to leave him off the plane to North America be an easy one for Deschamps. It looks as if the Lyon captain will spend the final two weeks of the domestic season making the best possible case for his inclusion. And with this fire behind him, it’s hard not to think that Lyon are in a very good position to hold onto their spot on the podium and return to Europe’s premier competition. 

This week’s Ligue 1 sub-plots

• On Saturday, Paris Saint-Germain had both eyes on the second leg of their Champions League semi-final with Bayern Munich as they hosted FC Lorient. Luis Enrique rested most of his starters… the result was as expected, as Les Merlus held them to a 2-2 draw. Read how it happened HERE.

• PSG dropping points was great news for Lens, who played that same evening. However, they couldn’t take advantage of PSG’s slip in the title race as they were forced to share points with relegation-threatened OGC Nice. Read all about it HERE.

• Lorient are on course for a top-half finish, but will likely go into the summer in search of a new head coach. Olivier Pantaloni is expected to step aside following the midseason takeover by Bournemouth owner, Black Knight FC. His replacement might well have been found. Read more HERE.

GFFN | Nick Hartland