Runs to Portugal and already shines through France: “It’s not Vitinha, but...”

Uma auspicious debut. This is how Lucas da Cunha took the missing step, on Monday night, to flee Portugal and become international A for France, being the holder of Zinédine Zidane in the victory before Belgium (2-1), on the second day of the League of Nations. 

Lucas da Cunha has been shining in Como, from Cesc Fàbregas, and could also be called by Portugal, since he is a Portuguese father and has dual nationality. However, the average of 25 years completed his journey in the Gaul youth selections and the current exhibitional level in Italy led France not to waste any time to grab him for the future. 

“ I felt good in the field. I am very happy with my debut”, started by confessing Lucas da Cunha to TF1 after the meeting.

“ It's something very important, it's great emotions... A great joy. I was in the second division a few years ago and today I meet here in the French national team. This shows that when you do not give up, things end up happening”, said the latest French international. 

“Single profile”

Lucas da Cunha's debut has not gone unnoticed and is already motivating a lot of enthusiasm in France, giving rise to various praises and... comparisons. No after Foot program by RMC Sport, journalist Daniel Riolo proved to be surrendered to the capabilities of the Portuguese-French. 

“The profile of Lucas Da Cunha is the only one that will give another face to our football and our French team. We're not talking about Vitinha at PSG, Rodri or Jorginho in 2021... We have Da Cunha. But it is a different style, to which we are not used”, Riolo analyzed. 

This was also the vision of Jean-Louis Tourre, who pointed to the technical capacity of the average Como. 

“It’s a profile we don’t have in French football. How many times did we say we were missing this player, a technical player, in front of the defense? Above all, what impressed me was his serenity. First internationalization, you're ahead of the defense, you've got the pressure of the Belgians constantly on you, and he keeps calm, and he never cleared the ball. Play long, short game, has quality in the shot and even hit the pole ", explained Tourre. 

In turn, Samuel Umtiti, a former French international, also applauded Lucas da Cunha’s “tranquility”, stressing that the player did exactly what he does in Como. 

“ He's used to it with Fabregas. When we see How to play, they try to play out whenever there's pressure, they're not afraid. And when you repeat that, you get to the selection and you're not necessarily afraid they're gonna push you, you play quietly. And this was seen”, said Umtiti.

Zidane approves premiere 

Lucas da Cunha's debut was also approved by the French selector. Zidane said he was “very pleased” with the player’s performance and stressed his freedom in the field. 

“ It's not easy, because it was his first internationalization and he joined a group he doesn't know. You played like you used to, like I wanted you to, which means loose. And did it very well”, Zidane evaluated, on the antenna of TF1. 

Lucas da Cunha, with training in Rennes, arrived at the Como in 2023, and has since been in sight, following the evolution of the Italian emblem. Yesterday he took a firm step in his international statement, debuting for the Gauls and finally escaping Portugal.