Raphael Varane decides to retire from international duty with France so he may concentrate on playing for Man United.
Raphael Varane was a vital starter for Les Bleus when they tasted World Cup triumph in 2018 and played a major role as Didier Deschamps steered his team to the 2022 championship in Qatar. In 2018, Varane was a key starter for Les Bleus when they won the World Cup. It has come to light that his final appearance for his country came in the form of a nail-biting loss in the championship match against Argentina back in December.
Over the course of a decade, the center defense earned 93 caps for France, during which time he scored five goals and competed for his nation in four international tournaments.
Nearly ten years ago, on March 22, 2013, Varane made his debut for France in an international match. The match was a qualifying match for the 2014 World Cup, and France won the match against Georgia. Even though he was only a teenager at the time, he had already established himself as a consistent starter for Real Madrid.
Soon after, he became a mainstay in the starting lineup for Les Bleus, but in 2016, he sustained an injury to his thigh that prevented him from participating in the European Championships. This assured that he would not be a part of the home nation’s journey to the final, which they ultimately failed to do when they were defeated by Portugal.
Two years later, during the World Cup, Varane would play every minute of each match for Deschamps’s side, appearing in all seven of their contests. In the triumph over Uruguay in the quarterfinals, he opened the scoring with a header, and he also played an important part in the defensive pairing formed by Samuel Umtiti and himself.
Varane is only the fourth player in history to win both the World Cup and the Champions League in the same calendar year, following in the footsteps of Christian Karembeu (in 1998), Roberto Carlos (in 2002), and Sami Khedira (in 2014). Surprisingly, all four players, including Varane, were on Real Madrid’s roster at the time the team won the World Cup.
The defender started all four of France’s matches at Euro 2020, which was held in 2021, but the team was unable to go past the Round of 16 because they were defeated by Switzerland. Despite his team’s loss in the shootout, Varane did not receive a caution.
In a statement that he has made, he said, “Representing our great country for the past decade has been one of the biggest honors of my life.” When I wore this very special blue jersey, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride each and every time. The obligation to offer everything I have, to play my heart out, and to come out on top every time we on the field. After giving it some thought over the past few months, I’ve come to the conclusion that now is the perfect time for me to retire in another country.”
“When I was a kid, I remember following France 98, and I remember how this team and these players gave us feelings that words can’t even begin to describe. I had a fantasy that one day I would be able to achieve what our heroes did, and then 20 years later I had one of the most amazing experiences of my life, an event that made me feel incredibly proud of myself. We won the World Cup right here in the United States!! I shall never forget him. I am still experiencing each and every one of the feelings that I had on July 15, 2018. It was truly one of the most amazing and unforgettable experiences of my entire life.”
“This victory that we won together would not have been possible without the support of Didier Deschamps, of each member of the management and our staff during these years, and of my teammates who defended our shirt at each of our matches,” Didier Deschamps said after the match. “This victory that we won together would never have been possible without the support of each member of the management and our staff.”
“There is no doubt that I will miss spending time with you in this capacity, but the time has come for the next generation to step up and take charge.” There is a group of exceptionally brilliant young players in our organization who are prepared to take the reins, who are deserving of a chance, and who are dependent on you.”
“I wish to express my gratitude to you from the depths of my soul. Raph.”