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Like 1998 when Lilian Thuram scored twice against Croatia and brought his team to the finals, Samuel Umtiti, a defender, saved the match on Tuesday.
By dint of going elsewhere if the ball turns rounder, they have their space-time of their own. Their moment of glory. Their instinct of center-forward. In France, the defenders attack: oxymorons crampons! Unexpected heroes, too, since the start of this World Cup in Russia
Once again, Tuesday, July 10, the Blues were waiting for a goal from their center-forward. Once again, they find themselves thanking a man sprung out of nowhere, or just like: back lines. The semi-final hero in the St. Petersburg locker room is Samuel Umtiti
The central defender scored the only goal against the Belgians (1-0). That of qualification for a new World Cup final, after those of 1998 (won) and 2006 (lost). His third in twenty-four games with the Blues. Not the least important, according to Kylian Mbappé, who speaks as an attacker: " He will remember it all his life and I think that France will remember it too. To refresh our memory, let us remember this corner of Antoine Griezmann shortly after half-time, right side; then this head of Umtiti which rises in the air to better cut the ball, at the first post.
The interested party evokes "something crazy" and one could not say better. "A few weeks ago" still, he had "used to stay in the middle of the field" when the Blues had corners to play. Since "watching my games and kicking a bit, I decided to either go to the front post or wait for the second, and it paid off tonight", he said.
Defended collective work
Two other defenders have already scored since the start of this World Cup. Crucial goals, too. In the eighth, the right-back Benjamin Pavard equalized against Argentina (4-3) with a goal as dream to register any striker: a recovery of volley without control, …
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