‘Since Thursday my life has changed’ – Lucas Chevalier on first-ever France call-up

It had seemed only a matter of time before Lucas Chevalier (23) would convince Didier Deschamps to select him as part of the France squad. The Lille OSC goalkeeper has been earning plaudits since making his debut in 2021. 

This season Chevalier’s performances with Lille in the club’s impressive Champions League run have made the young goalkeeper difficult to ignore. Chevalier has been key in helping Les Dogues defeat Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid and also draw with Italian giants Juventus. 

However, it is perhaps a stroke of fortune for Chevalier that his performances come at the same time that France’s third-choice goalkeeper Alphonse Areola has been dropped from West Ham United’s starting lineup, allowing for Deschamps to make a long-awaited change to his three-man rotation. 

Lucas Chevalier: ‘I’m going to have the demands of a French international.’

Chevalier in the press conference ahead of Lille’s game against OGC Nice expressed his joy at the decision, “Since Thursday… my life has changed, people look at me differently, everything is tenfold. Everything you have done which seemed ordinary takes on more significance. It’s flattering but you have to keep your feet on the ground… because I’m going to have the demands of a French international.” 

GFFN | Nick Hartland