The non-selection of Martin Terrier and Benjamin Bourigeaud for the 2022 World Cup knocked out Florian Maurice, the sports director of Stade Rennais.
“I find that a bit surprising”
Stade Rennais flies to the aid of its duo. Through the voice of its sporting director Florian Maurice, the Breton club ranted against the France team and the coach of the Blues, Didier Deschamps. The reason for the Breton leader’s anger? The absence of Martin Terrier and Benjamin Bourigeaud in the list of players summoned by the 2018 world champions for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which Kylian Mbappé’s partners ended with a defeat in the final against Argentina (3- 3, 2-4 tabs).
Interviewed by the daily The TeamFlorian Maurice does not understand the non-selection of the duo and wonders about the lack of interest of “DD” and his staff for the Rennes players. “Already, you have to come and see them. Maybe we watch them on video, but already, coming to Roazhon Park or when we play outside, I don’t know. (…) I never received a call: ‘Hello Flo, how is Martin (Terrier), how is Bourige (Benjamin Bourigeaud)?’ I find that a bit surprising, I don’t know if it sucks to say it or not, but that’s okay.”
“Go abroad to play for the France team?”
Despite the withdrawals of Karim Benzema and Christopher Nkunku, Martin Terrier and Benjamin Bourigeaud remained at the dock in favor of Randal Kolo Muani. “Perhaps he (Deschamps) does not like Martin’s profile, or there is something else and there you have to wonder. Deeply (…) I do not criticize the level of the player, he is a great player. But I had heard: yes, to go to the France team, you have to have experience, to have played in the European Cup! Martin Terrier has played all three, so what does it take?”
The 48-year-old regrets that the players playing in the French championship are not sufficiently highlighted in the selection, an unconvincing argument from a club embittered with regard to the summons of the Marseillais Mattéo Guendouzi and Jordan Veretout. “We manage to retain Martin Terrier last summer, who is not going to a Premier League club. And there, what message are you sending to French players (in Ligue 1), in fact? Go away abroad to play in the France team? This is not necessarily the right message. I do not believe.”