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Bouaddi impressed on his World Cup debut, leaving many French people disappointed. |
Bouaddi's performance against Brazil at the 2026 World Cup is not only attracting attention in Morocco. In France, where the 18-year-old midfielder has played for youth teams from U16 to U21, the story of his choice of national team colors is becoming a subject of debate.
Bouaddi featured in the 1-1 draw between Morocco and Brazil, displaying confidence and mature ball handling skills despite being only 18 years old. It was a memorable World Cup debut for the Lille player, while also sparking disappointment among French fans.
The most vocal critic was Jerome Rothen, a former French international who now works as a commentator for RMC Sport.
"I was truly shocked to hear what Didier Deschamps said. With Bouaddi, we didn't need to wait until the match against Brazil to realize he was an exceptional talent. He's a player who matured for his age," Rothen commented.
According to the former PSG and Monaco player, the French Football Federation should have been more proactive in retaining one of the brightest talents in French football.
"When you have a player like Bouaddi playing in the domestic league and consistently representing the national youth teams, it's the job of the head coach, the coaching staff, and the Federation to stay in touch with him. They need to show Bouaddi that the French national team has a plan for his development and will give him opportunities in the future," Rothen added.
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Formerly the captain of the French U21 team, Bouaddi is now becoming a new hope for Morocco. |
These statements reflect the widespread regret in France. Bouaddi was not an unknown player who suddenly appeared at the World Cup. He was considered one of the most promising young midfielders in Ligue 1, often mentioned as the future of Lille and French football.
What surprised many was that Bouaddi still wore the captain's armband for the French U21 team in the final international break before the 2026 World Cup. However, the lack of clear signals from coach Didier Deschamps led him to choose Morocco, his family's homeland.
It was a perfectly logical decision for a young player seeking an opportunity to play at the national team level. Given the French midfield already boasting experienced players like Aurélien Tchouameni, Adrien Rabiot, and Manu Koné, Bouaddi's path to the first team was clearly not easy.
Meanwhile, Morocco is ready to place its trust in the player born in 2007. The North African team is also benefiting from its strategy of attracting dual-nationality talents, which has helped them achieve success in recent major tournaments.
After the match against Brazil, Bouaddi affirmed that he hadn't thought beyond the World Cup and was only focused on his journey with Morocco. However, in France, debates about the national team missing out on a promising young talent will certainly continue, especially if Bouaddi maintains his impressive form at the 2026 World Cup.
Source: https://znews.vn/phap-tiec-nuoi-vi-de-vuot-bouaddi-post1660260.html
