Belgium-France: "A profile we don't have in French football": Da Cunha impressed everyone in his debut

Lucas Da Cunha celebrated his first cap for the French national team in Monday's Nations League victory against Belgium (1-0). A successful debut for the midfielder, whose profile impressed the After Foot panel on RMC.

He could hardly have dreamed of a better debut. A new face in Zinédine Zidane's France squad, Lucas Da Cunha (25 years old) made a successful debut for Les Bleus in the victory against Belgium (1-0). For his first cap, the Como midfielder shone in the middle of the park.

Among the best French players on the pitch, the player who came through the Stade Rennais youth system showcased all his qualities in winning back possession and distributing the ball. Very comfortable technically, he even came close to capping his debut with a goal, but his shot was deflected by the post (53rd minute).

"I felt good on the pitch. I'm very happy with my debut," Da Cunha told TF1 after the match. "It's a big deal, it's a huge emotion, a great joy. I was in the second division a few years ago and today I find myself here with the French national team. It shows that when you don't give up, things happen."

"The only profile that will give a new face to our football"

The former Nice and Clermont player certainly managed to win over the After Foot panel on RMC with his playing style. "Da Cunha's profile is the only one that will give a new face to our football and our French national team," explained Daniel Riolo just after the match. "We're not talking about Vitinha at PSG, or Rodri or Jorginho in 2021… We have Da Cunha. But it's a different style, one we haven't been used to for… well, not for very long."

"He's a type of player we don't have in French football," confirmed Jean-Louis Tourre. "How many times have we said we were missing that kind of guy, a technically gifted player in front of the defense? Above all, what struck me was his composure. In his first international appearance, you're in front of the defense, you're under constant pressure from the Belgians, and he keeps his cool, he never once threw the ball away. Long passes to the crossbar, short passes to keep the ball under pressure, shots on goal, since he hit the post…"

Zidane: "He played the way I wanted him to."

Like the rest of the After Foot panel, Samuel Umtiti was also impressed by the composure displayed by the player who has been with Como since 2023. "He's used to this with Fabregas (Como's coach, editor's note)," the former French international emphasized. "When you watch this team play, they try to play out from the back as soon as there's pressure; they're not afraid. And when you repeat that, you arrive with the national team and you're not necessarily afraid of being pressed, and you play calmly. And it showed."

With 97 touches, 6 ball recoveries, and 4 duels won, Da Cunha justified his coach's choice. "I'm very happy with his performance," Zinédine Zidane told TF1. "It's not easy, especially since it's his first cap, he's joining a group he doesn't know. He played the way he usually does, the way I wanted him to play, which is to say, freely. And he did it very well." Could this mean Zidane will give him another starting spot this Friday at the Stade de France against Italy? "We really want to see him again," concluded Jean-Louis Tourre.