France headmaster Didier Deschamps will not be able to celebrate his recent four-year contract extension for long after Les Bleus veteran first-choice goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has officially retired from international football.
As reported in L’Équipe, Lloris (36) issued a statement from his home in London to announce he was hanging up his boots and no longer able to represent France on the global stage after a very successful fourteen-year stint, which included a World Cup win in 2018.
Lloris : « Après quatorze années à défendre ce maillot, je crois que je suis arrivé au bout. J’ai décidé d’arrêter ma carrière internationale, avec le sentiment d’avoir tout donné. » 🇫🇷
(@lequipe) pic.twitter.com/6e77SX60EI
— Actu Foot (@ActuFoot_) January 9, 2023
“After fourteen years defending this jersey, I think I have reached the end. I decided to end my international career, with the feeling of having given everything.”
Perhaps there was no better time for Lloris to step aside and pass the shot-stopping torch to the next in line under Deschamps in the wake of France’s loss to Argentina in the Qatar final after he once again captained the side on the biggest stage, but was unable to – along with his colleagues – replicate the same success of four years prior.
But for Lloris, his national team legacy has no doubt been set in stone after not only helping the nation to its second-ever World Cup win across its illustrious footballing history, but the Nice-born keeper eclipsed legendary defender Lilian Thuram to take control of sole possession of the all-time record for caps at 145.
And just like in every other position across the team, France has deep options to choose from for Lloris’ replacement, with the likes of Alphonse Areola, Alban Lafont, Mike Maignan, and Illan Meslier all capable of stepping into the breach as the European giants prepare for their Euro 2024 qualification campaign that sees them host the Netherlands at Saint-Denis on 24 March.
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