{"id":601930,"date":"2021-09-19T11:31:04","date_gmt":"2021-09-19T15:31:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/?p=601930"},"modified":"2021-09-19T11:31:04","modified_gmt":"2021-09-19T15:31:04","slug":"allan-saint-maximin-france","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2021\/09\/19\/allan-saint-maximin-france\/","title":{"rendered":"Allan Saint-Maximin France Call-Up Should Come Sooner Rather Than Later"},"content":{"rendered":"

Allan Saint-Maximin arrived at Newcastle United<\/a> in the summer of 2019 and has since become the shining light in a dim and dreary Magpies side. Thrilling to watch, nightmarish to defend against and a fans\u2019 hero for the Toon faithful, he is without a doubt a special player and should be now more than ever eyed up for a spot in the France squad.<\/p>\n

Didier Deschamps Should Not Hesitate to Makes Allan Saint-Maximin France Call<\/h2>\n

France Have Issues in Forward Areas<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s no secret that France have struggled to produce the same devastatingly magical football that we saw in 2018 \u2013 the year in which Les Bleus bagged their second World Cup crown with solid and blistering football that proved unplayable.<\/p>\n

However, in the two and a half years subsequent to lifting the World Cup, France\u2019s forward line has been easily stifled and contained after deep-lying and resolute sides learned how to deal with the mostly one-dimensional approach of playing around Olivier Giroud.<\/p>\n

Then came the reintroduction of Karim Benzema prior to Euro 2020.<\/p>\n

Les Bleus\u2019 preparation friendly against Wales in early June brought with it a new optimism, awe and joy with the national team. Benzema\u2019s return had reinvigorated France, almost to the point where no one else was even in contention for the European Championships.<\/p>\n

Dynamic running, elusive movement and a beautiful finesse throughout Didier Deschamps\u2019 side\u2019s 3-0 win against the Welsh had marked the birth of a terrifying front three. That was until the intensity and chemistry between the trio of Benzema, Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann seemingly dissipated and couldn\u2019t be regained in any system the France boss tried.<\/p>\n

Since the preparatory friendlies in June, it\u2019s been a story of \u2018nearly\u2019 and \u2018not quite\u2019 for France. Disappointing results \u2013 including a humiliating dumping out of Euro 2020 courtesy of a penalty shootout defeat to Switzerland in the last 16 \u2013 dull performances and a general lack of direction have presented Deschamps with harsh questions that need answers.<\/p>\n

Time for Allan Saint-Maximin to Be Included in France Squad<\/h3>\n

Even with the injection of fresh legs and impetus in such performances, the results are all too familiar. Kingsley Coman has consistently failed to replicate his scintillating form at Bayern Munich<\/a>, Ousmane Dembele has in fact reproduced his lack of end product for Barcelona<\/a> at international level, Anthony Martial hasn\u2019t produced any true quality for his country since his early appearances as a teenager while the likes of Moussa Diaby and Jonathon Ikone are simply not quite at the required level to make an impact in the Tricolore.<\/p>\n

And it seems as though Allan Saint-Maximin is a bit of a forgotten man when it comes France.<\/p>\n

Okay, he isn\u2019t playing Champions League \u2013 or even Europa League \u2013 football and terrorising defences in Europe\u2019s elite club competition. And yes, he isn\u2019t at a club competing for silverware, rather a club doomed for another scrappy season. But he is undoubtedly deserving of a place in Deschamp\u2019s France squad \u2013 now more than ever.<\/p>\n

The 24-year-old is the<\/em> spark in Newcastle\u2019s depressingly mediocre side. He gets supporters off their seats, he alone makes matches worth watching and he\u2019s the one that injects the true essence and spirit of football into tedious fixtures.<\/p>\n

The Frenchman\u2019s stats may not have always reflected his undying influence on the Magpies\u2019 outings, but this season is different. Saint-Maximin is finally getting the decisive contributions that turn his electrifyingly frightening performances into something tangible.<\/p>\n

Stats Prove His Worth<\/h3>\n

He has played every minute of Newcastle\u2019s five Premier League matches thus far, scoring twice and assisting a further two. His latest contribution came on Friday night, completing an untouchable and mazy run with a clinical finish to equalise against Leeds<\/a> at St. James’ Park \u2013 a goal that earned his team a draw.<\/p>\n

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\ud83d\udde3\ufe0f "It reminds me of that goal George Best scored all those years ago!"<\/p>\n

Newcastle's Allan Saint-Maximin weaves his way past three defenders before rifling a shot into the far corner \ud83d\udd25<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcfa Watch #NEWLEE<\/a> live on Sky Sports PLpic.twitter.com\/w95pMUYJwu<\/a><\/p>\n

— Sky Sports (@SkySports) September 17, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n