With Lowry's retirement from the French national team, the change is not only that Mba wears the captain's armband, but also that AC Milan goalkeeper Menion appears in front of the French national team's goal line.
Against the Netherlands in the European qualifiers, he saved a penalty in the 95th minute. In the second round against Ireland, Meignan made three more saves in the last 10 minutes of the match, and two consecutive clean sheets made Deschamps laugh.
01. From AC Milan to the French national team: you can always trust Meignan
a. Lowry retired too late! Save the penalty and look at Meignan
After the World Cup, four France internationals chose to retire, in addition to Benzema and Varane, there were also two goalkeepers--- Lowry and Mandanda.
If Meignan had not been injured before the World Cup, perhaps Lowry might not have been able to hold his starting position, and the final title could have been different.
The first game of Menion's return to France was a strong dialogue with the Netherlands in the European qualifiers. In the 95th minute of the match, the Netherlands won the penalty.
The official account of Orange Tulips anxiously played a poster of the team's 1-4 defeat. Never wanted to face a penalty, Menion always surprises the team.
Depay's penalty kick was not only saved by Meignan, but even his first shot was saved by the quick-rising Meignan.
If Argentina needs to face the red-black goalkeeper in the World Cup final, it is really difficult to say whether Messi can lead the team to win the championship.
In two consecutive matches, blocking the opponent's must-score opportunity after the 90th minute, especially against Ireland, thanks to Meignan's masterstroke, France would have lost points.
Meignan's excellent performance not only allowed the team to keep two clean sheets in a row, but also put himself in the position of starting goalkeeper.
b. AC Milan return to the last eight of the Champions League: Menion also has a lot to contribute
After winning the win over Ireland, France coach Deschamps praised Meignan: "His role is more important than the goal. ”
At the club, last season helped AC Milan win the Serie A title after a long absence, and this season Meignan performed well in the knockout stage of the Champions League against Tottenham Hotspur, becoming the team's main contributor to reaching the last eight.
Kane's header was very threatening this time, but the Meignan goal line reacted quickly, using a beautiful underground move to defuse the team's crisis, and successfully kept a clean sheet against the Premier League team led by the England captain.
02. What a quick word! The goalline reacts and strikes quickly
a. Quick door line response: not just nimble underground
Against Ireland, Meignan made three successful saves and two crucial sorties.
In addition, Menion has many beautiful long and short passes that help the team well.
After Conde replaced Pavard, the explanation between the former and Cornet was not clear, and there were many mistakes in positioning.
Cornet was still moving quickly on the wing, but Conde seemed to have no intention of changing defenses, resulting in the depth behind the French team's right flank being used many times.
This time Cornet was going to make up for Conde, so he went straight to the sideline. Conde then left too much room for the Irish player to cut in when he closed the goal.
Fortunately, it was Meignan who blocked the near corner, and he blocked the opponent's powerful shot.
Ireland are a team with a simpler attacking pattern, either crosses from the wing or head-on, and a strong threat from set-pieces.
In this corner kick attack, a header from high in the box flew into the dead corner of the goal, and Menion's incredible leap allowed the team to escape the doom.
To be able to make extreme saves, Lowry should perhaps thank his right-back Conde. The latter pushed the ball against his own goal in a previous corner defense, allowing Menion to "warm up".
It can be seen that Meignan's door line reacts very quickly and has good physical flexibility, which are his two major strengths.
b. Strike just as fast: this is important
Due to multiple injuries this season, Menion's numbers are not very stable. Last season, he scored +7.1 blocking goals (xGOT - goals conceded) in Serie A, ranking first among Serie A goalkeepers.
You must know that Menion's advantage is not only the saving, but also the ability to strike and pass the ball is also very good.
In this defense, the French team had some problems in the middle, and they were unsuccessful in consecutive grabs, and even directly sent the ball into their own penalty area by the opponent.
Seeing that Ireland were set to get a chance, Menion quickly went out to get the ball and dissolve the potential one-of-the-envelope.
Not only the next three ways, Menion is also decisive when facing high balls. Knocking the ball out of the danger zone with a single punch is important when Ireland has a large heading advantage.
03. It is increasingly important for goalkeepers to play the ball! Meignan could have published a book
a. Excellent goalkeeper long pass: one look at the speed of handling the ball, the other look at accuracy
Meignan will turn 28 in just over three months, but this is also the golden age of goalkeepers.
With a height of 1.91 meters, his speed is his core competitiveness. On top of that, his passing ability is great, which is an extremely important added value.
The goalkeeper's long pass depends first and foremost on his vision and calmness in handling the ball under pressure. Meignan passes quickly, so he is never afraid of oppression.
Conde's return pass is dangerous this time, but Menion's handling can score full marks. Although Griezmann did not hold the first point, Meignan's pass was actually very accurate, and his teammates could control the second point, and the ball instantly went from the back to the front.
Looking at this attack, Meignan observed for a long time after holding the ball, and the accuracy of this long pass is extremely high.
Olivier Giroud has every chance to hold the ball, and even if the opponent tries his best to destroy, the French team can still hold the second drop point and let the attack go directly from the own penalty area to the opponent's penalty area.
After all, the greatest value of a long pass is not only the first point to the teammate, but more importantly, it disrupts the opponent's defensive position, which has a quick and sudden effect.
b. As a goalkeeper: Meignan can write books when he plays at the back
Judging from the knockout match between the Champions League and Tottenham, Meignan's pass success rate is very high. In addition to directly finding the long pass in front and being picked up by the opponent a few times, the central midfield has a high stability in handling the ball.
Especially passing to find full-backs on both sides has good efficiency.
Like this time, when Tonali started off the ball, taking away a number of Tottenham players. Meignon keenly observed Teo's position and sent a small over-the-top pass.
The latter drove directly into the half, and AC Milan's attacking rhythm began.
As a backcourt shooting point, the most important thing is not only the accuracy of the pass, but the field of view.
This time, after Meignan saw Jaff get the ball, it was important to sprint to the line of the big penalty area. Because if Kane presses Jaff while the Tottenham Hotspur player at the far end restricts Fikayo from taking the ball, then it is very important that Meignan gives Garve an easier passing line.
However, none of the Tottenham players moved to press, so Meignan then waved for Jaff to pass directly to Fikayo Tomori, eliminating the middle link to give him a transition.
It is clear from the camera that although Meignan did not touch the ball, he actually dominated this wave of backcourt combing balls.
In midfield, Tonali received the ball and a long pass, and Te'o was already in Tottenham's defensive third zone when he received the ball, and AC Milan's wave of advancement was very successful.
Conclusion:
As Neuer grew older and Oblak declined, Meignan and Alisson and Courtois became the best goalkeepers in football today.
In contrast, Meignan is the best value for money, but also the best at passing and error control, and the goalkeeper who is the most in line with contemporary football standards.