France – Belgium – Lloris-Courtois: "the shot stopper" or "the Albatross", who is the best? – 2018 World Cup – Football

What is the common point between the four semi-finalists of the World Cup? All Europeans, certainly, but also and especially the fundamental role played by their goalkeeper. For Danijel Subasic and Jordan Pickford, it's obvious. The Croatian won two penalty shootouts and the Englishman one before being named man of the match in his quarter-final. Thibaut Courtois and Hugo Lloris did not stop a penalty during the competition but their tournament is masterful. The two goalkeepers of the Premier League meet this Tuesday in St. Petersburg and their duel at a distance could well seal the fate of this semifinal given the offensive potential of their two selections.
      

So far, it's a faultless journey. In the quarterfinals, Courtois signed nine saves and nauseated Brazil, Lloris released a "Gordon Banks" against Caceres to maintain the advantage of the Blues against Uruguay. The first, motivated as ever to the idea of ​​shining in the most beautiful showcase of the world to satisfy his desires for Liga, finally finds his fullness among the Devils, the second has erased the few doubts that escorted his beginning of competition.
      

Christophe Lollichon, former goalkeeper coach who knows Thibaut Courtois by heart, and Lionel Charbonnier, third goalkeeper of the 1998 world champions, helps us to separate the two men. " Hugo is better, sorry Thibaut ," laughed Giroud, Courtois' teammate in Chelsea. Let's try to see further.
      

What has Courtois more than Lloris?

Christophe Lollichon: "He has everything: the Scale, speed, relaxation Already, Courtois is much bigger.Mathematically, when he pushes, he goes much higher than Lloris.His wingspan makes him a guardian almost impbadable, he takes more space in his goal. Offset by an excellent relaxation but, in this area, it can never be at the level of Courtois.
      

Lloris has a deflection problem that Courtois does not have, that is to say, he must not put the ball back in areas where a second ball can be played. Take the example of his stoppage against Caceres, the ball back to Godin. But no one can blame him, I do not know if he's working on it. I know that this is an area that I have touched on in training with Thibaut. Today, on his stops, he puts the ball away. At this World Cup, Lloris never intervenes in the air. Courtois goes there even if he sometimes fears physical contact. "
      

Lionel Charbonnier: "Courtois, he's an Albatross, he's more regular in a season than Hugo with a staggering wingspan, and for a stop at arm's length, he'll be more efficient."
      

What has Lloris more than Courtois?

Christophe Lollichon: "Nothing. Honestly I do not see, Lloris is excellent in concentration, he's waterproof, but his opponent on Tuesday too. "
      

Lionel Charbonnier: "Hugo is better on his line.In terms of anticipation and jump, I choose Lloris that goes faster on the ground.If you have to make a reflex stop, I choose 80% Lloris. We saw him at the World Cup, in front of Australia or Uruguay, and on the head of Caceres, he stopped his fingertips, he could not raise better, I would have blamed him for having sent the ball back to Godin if he had signed a full stop, that was not the case. "
      

Who is the best?

Christophe Lollichon: "Courtois is the best goalkeeper in the world, Lloris is today in the top 8. On this World Cup, the Belgian is inhabited by a great confidence, a real serenity. Stoic about events Today, I would say that Lloris is perfect in what Deschamps asks him to do: to be very strong on his line It is a shot stopper He could more shine like Courtois who does not hesitate to come out of it but I do not think it's asked. "
      

Lionel Charbonnier: "In the long run, Courtois is the best and Hugo in the top 10. But for the match on Tuesday, I put a play on Lloris because because of the shoots, I make him more Over a season, I take Courtois for Tuesday, I take Hugo, but maybe it's the heart that speaks … "