'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
4. Raphael Varane
Samuel Umtiti and Varane are always going to compared together- the two best French centre-backs of this Golden Generation and likely starting centre-backs for Barcelona and Real Madrid for probably the next decade. In the World Cup, they will be inseparable in the centre of France’s defense and they are situated similarly in these rankings. Both are excellent passers, great tacklers, strong in the air and have understated leadership qualities. What gives Umtiti the edge is Varane’s inconsistent La Liga performances where he had a lower player rating than Varane’s. Nonetheless, Varane was excellent in the Champions League. Indeed the Frenchman’s consistent performances have been a major reason why Real Madrid have managed to win three Champions League titles in a row. Over the past four years, Varane’s player ratings in Europe’s premier club competition have been 7.45, 6.94, 7.08 and 7.07 respectively. Impressive numbers indeed. Those statistics will need to be replicated (and not Varane’s La Liga form) if France are to finally win a major tournament for the first time since 2000.
Trending
3. Samuel Umtiti
Unquestionably the world’s best centre-back under 25, Umtiti has established himself as first-choice centre-back at Barcelona. The Frenchman had a decent player rating of 7.03 in La Liga last season. The Frenchman had excellent defensive statistics as he averaged 2 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per game. The Barcelona defender also showed a tendency not to dive into tackles, winning an incredible 83.3% of his tackles. The defender is also extremely strong in the air, winning 67.9% of his aerial duels. The Frenchman has also managed to adjust to the Barcelona tiki-taka way, becoming an excellent passer with a pass success percentage of 91.2%. These excellent all-around statistics bode well for the French national team which will rely on his and Raphael Varane’s performances to provide defensive solidity in addition to an attack that is among the most talented in the tournament. What must worry the Les Blues is the relative inexperience of the defensive partnership and the fact that Umtiti’s performances have declined in important stages of the UEFA Champions League and the Euros.
